Minimally Invasive Approaches to Continent Urinary Diversion

The primary objective of urinary diversion is to allow low-pressure storage and efficient drainage of urine in patients with bladder cancer or severe lower urinary tract dysfunction. Continent urinary diversion, although more challenging to construct and less commonly performed than non-continent diversion, offers the advantages of an intra-corporeal pouch for urinary storage and a concealed stoma for evacuation. Minimally, invasive approaches to the creation of continent urinary diversions have emerged over the last 20 years and may limit the morbidity of these procedures by potentially allowing shorter hospitalization, earlier recovery, and improved postoperative pain control. We review the various advances in minimally invasive approaches to continent urinary diversion.