Radical Cystectomies at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka: Baseline Characteristics, Short-term Complications, and Role of Nursing Care

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world and the 11th most common cancer in Zambia. Bladder cancer is of three histological types, Squamous cell cancer, Transitional cell cancer, and Adenocarcinoma. The most common histological type in Zambia is Squamous cell cancer accounting for 60 percent of cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy, Lymph node dissection, and urinary diversion. Globally, radical cystectomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most common diversion used was uretero-sigmoidostomy, accounting for 60 percent of cases. In our case series, the most common complications were wound dehiscence, hypo-proteinemia, bowel ileus, deep vein thrombosis, and electrolyte imbalance. Identification and prevention of complications associated with this procedure play a crucial role in improving survival for these patients. The role of nursing staff in the early recognition of these complications cannot be overemphasized.