title: Intraoperative and perioperative morbidity of contemporary radical retropubic prostatectomy in a consecutive series of 1243 patients: results of a single center between 1999 and 2002.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To up date counselling of patients in an experienced center, we assessed intraoperative and perioperative complications in a consecutive series of contemporary radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, we analyzed all intraoperative and perioperative complications within 30 days in a consecutive series of 1243 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between January 1999 and February 2002. All adverse events were graduated in major and minor complications by their severity and sequel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no deaths. Overall, 996 patients (80.2%) were not affected by any complication. Major complications were observed in 50 patients (4.0%), minor complications in 197 (15.8%). Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 861 (69.3%) patients. This procedure was associated with a significantly higher rate of lymphoceles requiring a drainage, 4.2% versus 0.3% (p<0.006) and a higher rate of deep venous thrombosis, 1.4% versus 0.5% (p<0.2), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radical retropubic prostatectomy is a safe surgical procedure. Postoperatively the majority of our patients was not compromised by any complication within 30 days. Furthermore, due to a higher rate of lymphoceles and thromboembolic events the indication for pelvic lymphadenectomy should be considered carefully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg D-20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammerer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graefen
authors.forename: Jüri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palisaar
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noldus
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Hartwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome