Can J Urol
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Radical cystectomy is associated with significant morbidity, with rates of gastrointestinal complications as high as 30%. Alvimopan is a mu opioid receptor antagonist that has been shown in randomized control trials to accelerate gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing bowel resection with primary anastamosis. We report our experience with gastrointestinal recovery for patients undergoing cystectomy with urinary diversion treated with alvimopan. ⋯ In our experience, the use of alvimopan perioperatively significantly accelerates the rate of gastrointestinal recovery and hospital discharge, eliminates the need for nasogastric tube decompression, and reduces the incidence of postoperative ileus in patients following radical cystectomy and urinary diversion.