Radical Cystectomy — Open / Laparoscopic / Robotic
Surgical Removal of the Bladder for Muscle-Invasive or High-Risk Bladder Cancer with Urinary Diversion
What is Radical Cystectomy — Open / Laparoscopic / Robotic?
Radical Cystectomy is the gold-standard surgical treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and high-risk non-muscle-invasive disease. It involves complete removal of the bladder, prostate (in men), uterus and anterior vaginal wall (in women), and regional lymph nodes, followed by urinary diversion — either an ileal conduit for external drainage or orthotopic neobladder for natural voiding. The procedure can be performed via open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted approaches, all achieving equivalent oncological outcomes. Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy improves survival by 5–10% and is recommended before surgery. The procedure is performed under general or spinal anaesthesia with a hospital stay of 7–14 Days.
How the Procedure Works
Approach & Bladder Mobilisation
Robotic, laparoscopic, or open approach; bladder, prostate or uterus mobilised and removed en bloc with regional lymph nodes.
Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection
Extended pelvic lymph node dissection performed simultaneously for staging and therapeutic benefit.
Urinary Diversion Construction
Ureters divided; urinary diversion selected and constructed — ileal conduit (urostomy) or orthotopic neobladder (natural voiding).
Anastomoses & Drainage
All anastomoses completed; drains, catheters, and stents placed.
Recovery & Discharge
Patient discharged when bowel function returns and adequate drainage confirmed — typically day 7–14.
Outcomes
Who Needs This Treatment?
- →Gold standard curative treatment for muscle-invasive TCC and high-risk NMIBC.
- →Extended lymph node dissection improves staging accuracy and survival.
- →Choice of urinary diversion tailored to patient anatomy, preference, and fitness.
- →Neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery improves survival outcomes by 5–10%.
- →Robotic approach reduces blood loss and shortens hospital stay in experienced centres.
- →Eliminates the bladder reducing recurrence risk from retained urothelium.
"Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is a major operation — but for muscle-invasive TCC, it offers the best chance of cure. Our goal is to remove every cancer cell while preserving the highest possible quality of life through careful diversion selection."
— — Dr. Vipin Reddy, Consultant Urologist, Andrologist & Renal Transplant Surgeon
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
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