Complications of primary retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection for low-stage testicular cancer.
The surgical complications encountered in 478 patients who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection for clinical stage A and B nonseminomatous testicular cancer during the period ranging from 1982 to 1992 were reviewed. There were 54 complications in 51 patients (10.6%), and there was no surgery-related mortality. There were 16 minor complications and 38 major complications. The most frequent complication encountered was superficial wound infection, and many of the major complications were related to small-bowel obstruction and atelectasis. The incidence of complications was significantly lower in patients operated on during the last 6 years of the study (1987-1992). The complication rate was lower in patients who underwent modified unilateral procedures than in those who had bilateral dissections. The ejaculation rate of patients undergoing nerve-sparing procedures was 98%. This study reinforces the conclusion that primary retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection is an operation yielding minimal morbidity and no long-standing effect.
Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Indianapolis 46202-5250.
J
J
Baniel
R S
RS
Foster
R G
RG
Rowland
R
R
Bihrle
J P
JP
Donohue
D004542:Ejaculation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome