The use of a surgical patch in the prevention of lymphoceles after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer: a randomized prospective pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Pelvic lymphadenectomy is frequently performed simultaneously with radical prostatectomy to determine lymph node status and the most frequently recorded postoperative complication is the development of a symptomatic lymphocele. This study evaluated TachoSil as an adjunct treatment in preventing lymphoceles after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer.


METHODS
A total of 60 consecutive patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were prospectively enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to a standard technique with the use of clips and electrocoagulation plus TachoSil, or to standard technique only. All patients underwent ultrasound examination on postoperative days 7, 14 and 28 to test for the development of symptomatic or asymptomatic lymphoceles. Drainage volume and duration were also recorded.


RESULTS
The baseline characteristics of the 2 randomized groups were well matched. Those patients in whom we used TachoSil showed a lower drainage volume with a mean total volume of 64 +/- 45 ml (range 0 to 110) vs 190 +/- 62.72 ml (range 70 to 270, p = 0.009), and had significantly fewer symptomatic and asymptomatic lymphoceles (5 vs 19, p = 0.001). Only 5 percutaneous surgical procedures to drain the lymphoceles proved necessary, 1 of which occurred in the group with TachoSil.


CONCLUSIONS
TachoSil seems to provide a useful additional treatment option for reducing drainage volume and preventing lymphocele development after extraperitoneal radical retropubic prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy.
Simonato
Alchiede
A
Luciano Giuliani Institute of Urology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. alchiede.simonato@unige.it
Varca
Virginia
V
Esposito
Marco
M
Venzano
Fabio
F
Carmignani
Giorgio
G
D004338:Drug Combinations; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D013917:Thrombin
D004338:Drug Combinations; C518955:TachoSil; D005340:Fibrinogen; D013917:Thrombin