The surgeon will create a “new” bladder out of a longer segment of small intestine in the same place that the old, diseased bladder was. This neobladder will be attached to the ureters from the kidneys and also attached to the urethra so that voiding urine is done as before.
The neobladder is not a muscle like your original bladder was, and does not have the same “fullness” sensations as does a bladder, so you must learn how to “hold” your urine (become continent) and how to effectively empty it using the pelvic muscles.
Advantages: Near normal function, no body image issues, no external pouches, no odours.
Disadvantages: Incontinence (as some may never regain full control), the inability to empty the neobladder (some may need to use a catheter daily to empty the neobladder), longer surgery time, potential for restricted flow.
