title: Endoscopic management of the obliterated anastomosis following radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated an endoscopic technique to treat the challenging problem of an obliterated anastomosis following radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four men with a mean 2.25 cm. obliterative defect underwent visual internal urethrotomy along a sternal guide wire passed under direct antegrade and retrograde vision. Men then performed self-dilation according to an increasing interval protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 4 men maintained anastomotic patency for a mean followup of 12.5 months and 1 no longer requires self-calibration. There were no complications of this procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic management coupled with self-dilation offers a safe, minimally invasive option for difficult, long obliterative anastomotic defects following radical prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D020684:Cystoscopes; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012648:Self Care; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization