Outcomes of palliative cystectomy in patients with locally advanced pT4 bladder cancer

Background: Radical cystectomy (-) is the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BCa). In locally advanced pT4 BCa the oncologic outcome is inexplicit but - may be necessary for palliation. Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of - performed in patients with locally advanced pT4 BCa and to identify patient subgroups with improved outcome. Methods: Between 2008 and 2017, we identified 76 of 905 patients who underwent - for pT4 BCa at a single tertiary referral center. The physical patients' status was estimated according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification. For the classification of postoperative complication rates, the Clavien-Dindo grading was used. Time-to-event variables with log-rank statistics were calculated with the use of the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Median age was 74 years (range 42 & minus;90). Preoperatively, the physical status was estimated poor in 40 (52%) patients (ASAscore of >3). Overall, 19 (25%) patients had pT4b BCa, 41 (54%) patients were lymph node positive (c/pN+) and 14 (18%) patients had distant metastases (c/pM+). Within 30 and 90 days after surgery, 21% and 30% of the patients, respectively, developed severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade >3). Overall, 30-and 90-day mortality rates were 9% and 11%, respectively. Moreover, 86% and 75% of patients who died within 30 and 90 days after surgery, respectively, had an ASA-score >3. At a median postoperative follow-up of 8 months (range 0 & minus;85), 53 (70%) patients have died. During the follow-up period, 46% of the patients died due to progressive disease, 16% died of a non cancer-specific cause, and for 8% of the patients, the reason remains unknown. Median overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival were 13.0 and 16.0 months, respectively. In subgroup analyses ASA-score >3 and hemoglobin <11.7 g/dl was significantly associated with poor OS. No statistically significant differences were detected between subgroups. Conclusion: Cx performed in patients with locally advanced pT4 BCa is associated with an increased mortality rate within 90 days postoperatively. Our study revealed that the ASA-score is a relevant and easily available tool to rate the patient's condition and estimate postoperative outcome. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Patients with locally advanced pT4 BCa undergoing Cx have a higher mortality rate and postoperative complication rate. The study indicated that the ASA score is a relevant and easily accessible tool for assessing patient condition and estimating postoperative outcomes.