Risks

Cystectomy is a complex surgery, involving the manipulation of many internal organs in your abdomen. Because of this, cystectomy carries with it certain risks, including:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• Infection
• Pneumonia
• Rarely, death can happen after surgery

Since cystectomy is a surgery not just to remove the bladder but also to create a urinary diversion, the surgery includes additional risks, such as:

• Dehydration
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Urinary tract infection
• A blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through your intestines (bowel obstruction)
• A blockage in one of the tubes that carries urine from the kidneys (ureter blockage)

Some complications may be life-threatening. You may need to go back to the operating room for surgery to fix the complication, or you may need to be readmitted to the hospital. Ask your surgeon what additional risks there may be for your particular surgery.