title: Running suture for vesicourethral anastomosis in minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We used a running suture method for vesicourethral anastomosis in patients undergoing minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The vesicourethral anastomosis using a single knot at the 6:30-o'clock position is created with two steps of semicircular running suture. A total of 21 consecutive patients underwent this running suture method using the Endostitch in the hands of a single surgeon (T.M.) between March and November 2004. The running suture procedure was completed in 15 minutes on average. After surgery, no urinary leakage at the anastomotic site was found. Satisfactory continence was achieved in the short term in 100% (0 to 1 pad per day) of cases. However, dilation at the anastomosis using a metal dilator was required in 2 patients immediately after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The running suture method is considered a feasible alternative in minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okihara
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ukimura
authors.forename: Soh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usijima
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawauchi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeyama
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*