Causes | Artificial bladder

Causes

A number of diseases can make it necessary to replace the bladder with an artificial one. This becomes necessary whenever the body’s own bladder is no longer able to perform the task of collecting urine correctly or when it has to be removed during the course of a disease. For example, cancer of the bladder may require the bladder to be removed.

To prevent the growth and development of metastases, the bladder is removed when some tumors are detected. However, not every tumor of the bladder requires a bladder removal and thus the creation of an artificial bladder. Artificial bladders are also used for congenital diseases.

For example, in people who suffer from the disease of a so-called “open back” (medical term: spina bifida, meningomyelocele), it is often necessary to remove the bladder and replace it with an artificial bladder. A blockage of the urethra, which either occurs congenitally or in the course of life, can mean that an artificial bladder has to be inserted to replace the body’s own. The bladder can be so severely damaged by radiation therapy that an artificial bladder must be inserted as a result of the therapy. This is particularly common with tumor diseases of the bladder with radiation therapy.

From gut

An artificial bladder is usually formed from different sections of the intestine. Different parts of the intestine are used, depending on the type of urinary diversion chosen. Using different cutting techniques, a more or less round reservoir can be formed from the elongated intestinal section used for the artificial bladder, which then functions as a bladder substitute.

The missing piece of intestine can be replaced by the remaining intestinal sections in its function, which is why treated patients experience few side effects of intestinal function. Since the intestine does not normally assume the function of a urine reservoir, the use of intestinal sections for the artificial bladder nevertheless results in complications. For example, malignant changes can occur in the intestine used.The bladder must also be emptied more often, since the intestine is much less flexible than the bladder. In conclusion, however, the intestine is still the material of choice for artificial urine diversion.