Since April 1986, total bladder substitution, by the ileal neobladder in cases of radical cystoprostatectomy or bladder augmentation, proved to be a reliable alternative method of urinary diversion in 81 patients. The operative technique is standardized, comparably simple and safe to prevent upper urinary tract deterioration, reflux, as well as incontinence. The neurovascular bundle can be preserved, so potency might not be compromised. As preservation of the external urethral sphincter is possible, total day and night time continence is a result of residual sphincter function and abolishment of high pressure waves of the intestinal reservoir. Follow-up of the patients is between 1 and 28 months (mean 12.2 months). 64 patients had a follow-up of more than 3 months postoperatively and the evaluation included private micturition behavior and urodynamic investigation. Stress incontinence, which has to be corrected by an artificial sphincter, was found in 3 and night time incontinence needing some external device in 2 patients. There was no perioperative mortality. The special technique of creating the ileal neobladder by folding the ileal segment 4 times with complete detubularization, besides preserving urethral sphincter function, seems to be the most important reason why total continence during the day and night is achieved in more than 90% of the patients.