Have you heard of reconstructing a new bladder? Urologist Prof. Dr. Fatih Kurtulus holds expertise in that

Prof. Dr. Fatih Kurtulus is a very prominent and well-known Urologist from Istanbul. Currently, he is serving Medistanbu Hospital in Istanbul. With the experience of more than 24 years in this field he holds expertise in the treatment of Kidney stones, Laser Treatment of Kidney Stones with Robots, Evaporation of Prostate with Greenlight Laser, Sphincter, Prostate Enlargement, Bleeding in urine, Percutaneous Lithotripsy, URS, and Penile Prosthesis. He completed his graduation from Istanbul University. He did advanced laparoscopy training in Strasbourg and further gained experience in the field of neuro-oncology, endourology, and female urology at the Milan San Raffaele IRCCS Hospital and Heidelberg University. He is an esteemed member of various organizations such as the European Association of Urology, Urological Surgery Association, Turkish Andrology Association, Endourological Society, and Turkish Urology Association. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kurtulus has been honored by several awards like Urooncology Research Award 2015, 2008 Best oral presentation, 2008 AUA Congress, and many more.

 Neobladder Reconstruction

It is a surgical procedure where a new bladder is reconstructed. When someone undergoes a bladder removal surgery for bladder cancer or any similar condition, the surgeon needs to create a new way for urine to exit from the body. Neobladder reconstruction, also referred to as orthotopic neobladder reconstruction is one such option for urinary diversion. During the procedure, a piece of the intestine is used to create a new bladder that allows to urinate voluntarily and maintain continence.

Need of Bladder Reconstruction

• Urinary incontinence that is not responding to other treatment
• Birth defects that cannot be repaired
• Trauma to the bladder
• Bladder cancer
• Non-functional bladder due to radiation therapy, neurologic conditions, or chronic inflammatory disease

Procedure

Before the procedure doctor needs tests to check how the kidney functions and to make sure that you don't have a urinary tract infection. You may also have to undergo an imaging test such as a CT scan. This will help to keep the urinary tract to check the ureters and tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

The surgeon first removes a cancerous bladder through a traditional abdominal incision or with a robot-assisted laparoscopic approach. Then a section of the small intestine, colon, or their combination will be reshaped into a sphere that becomes a neobladder. The neobladder will be placed at the same location inside your body as the original bladder. The neobladder is then attached to ureters so that urine can drain from the kidneys into it.  Other end of the neobladder is then attached to the urethra. This allows you to maintain urinary control with a functional bladder that is capable of storing urine without the requirement of external bags or appliances.

Take Away

This is major surgery and requires a life-long follow-up. Neobladder needs time to function properly. At times it may lead to urinary incontinence. Consult your doctor on how often your case needs follow-up. For more details contact Prof. Dr. Faith Kurtulus is one of the best Urologists in Istanbul. You can see him at Medistanbu Hospital in Istanbul.