Long-term effects on bladder function following radical hysterectomy with and without postoperative radiation

Sixty-one patients with Stage IB cervical carcinoma treated initially by Type III radical hysterectomy underwent water cystometry 6 or more months after surgery. Adjunctive pelvic radiation in 10 patients was associated with significantly more contracted (P < 0.001) and unstable (P < 0.01) bladders than surgery alone. The necessity for bladder drainage 30 or more days after surgery alone in 17 patients was associated with significantly worse (P < 0.05) long-term post-void residual and total bladder capacity as well as volume for first urge to void compared to 34 patients treted only with surgery who required short-term drainage. Management of bladder drainage following radical hysterectomy is discussed.