Radical retropubic prostatectomy with running vesicourethral anastomosis and early catheter removal: our experience.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcomes of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with a running vesicourethral anastomosis and catheter removal on postoperative day 3 or 5.


METHODS
From February 2006 through December 2007, 55 patients underwent RRP at our institution. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon using a running suture for the vesicourethral anastomosis. A cystogram was carried out before catheter removal in all patients. The initial 23 of 55 patients (Group 1; n = 23) had the cystogram on postoperative day 5, the other 32 patients (Group 2; n = 32) had the cystogram on postoperative day 3. Removal of the catheter was only carried out if there was no anastomotic extravasation.


RESULTS
The success rate of catheter removal in group 1 and 2 was 100% and 96.9%, respectively. Overall continence rates were 83.3%, 87% and 90.7% at 24, 48 and 72 h after removal of the catheter, respectively. There was no significant difference in terms of continence rate between groups 1 and 2. None of the patients had acute urinary retention and/or anastomotic stricture after catheter removal.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that an advanced running vesicourethral anastomosis during RRP is technically feasible, allowing safe early catheter removal in most patients.
Ozu
Choichiro
C
Department of Urology, Tokyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. choichiro680910@fg8.so-net.ne.jp
Hagiuda
Jun
J
Nakagami
Yoshihiro
Y
Hamada
Riu
R
Horiguchi
Yutaka
Y
Yoshioka
Kunihiko
K
Nakashima
Jun
J
Hatano
Tadashi
T
Tachibana
Masaaki
M
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence; D016055:Urinary Retention