What surgical procedure involves removing the bladder?

The surgical procedure that involves the removal of the bladder is known as a cystectomy. This operation is typically performed for various reasons, including the treatment of bladder cancer, severe bladder dysfunction, or recurrent bladder infections that do not respond to other treatments.

During a cystectomy, the entire bladder or a portion of it is surgically excised. This can be done as a radical cystectomy, where the whole bladder is removed, along with some surrounding tissues and possibly lymph nodes, or as a partial cystectomy, where only a part of the bladder is taken out. Following the procedure, patients often require reconstruction to create a new way for urine to exit the body, often through a stoma or an internal pouch.

In contrast, nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of a kidney; urethrectomy pertains to the removal of the urethra, and enterostomy involves the creation of an opening from the intestine to the outside of the body. Each of these procedures targets different organs and conditions, thus making them distinct from a cystectomy, which focuses specifically on the bladder.