Outcome of precise vesicourethral anastomosis following retropubic radical prostatectomy using a Foley catheter.
OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate precise anastomosis using a Foley catheter, complications following radical retropubic prostatectomy were examined.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Precise vesicourethral anastomosis was performed, visualizing the urethral stump by raising up the urogenital diaphragm using a Foley catheter. Complications, such as prolonged urinary extravasation and temporary urinary retention, were checked when the catheter was removed. Incontinence was evaluated both within 6 weeks and more than 6 weeks after operation. Anastomotic and urethral strictures were also checked during follow up.


RESULTS
The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 47 months (mean (+/- SD) 22.0 +/- 12.1 months). Eighteen of 21 patients (85.7%) achieved continence after the operation. However, two patients still had stress incontinence and one patient had mild incontinence. Neither prolonged urinary extravasation nor temporally urinary retention were observed. Anastomotic and urethral stricture were not experienced during follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
Precise anastomosis using a Foley catheter is technically easy and useful, even for relatively inexperienced urologists, to perform. Patients can often achieve continence following this procedure.
Fujisawa
M
M
Department of Urology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan. urology@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Higuchi
A
A
Gotoh
A
A
Matsui
T
T
Hara
I
I
Gohji
K
K
Okada
H
H
Arakawa
S
S
Kamidono
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy