title: Side-fenestrated catheter decreases leakage at the urethrovesical anastomosis after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse whether a side-fenestrated urinary catheter can decrease the frequency of anastomotic leakage after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred and fifty patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing RALP were randomized into standard and side-fenestrated catheter groups in a prospective randomized study. The catheter was fenestrated at the site of the anastomosis to improve drainage. A cystogram was taken at 7 ± 2 days postoperatively to verify the watertightness of the anastomosis. The patients were monitored for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 106 patients with the standard and 108 patients with the fenestrated catheter. Leakage at the urethrovesical anastomosis was found in 13/106 (12.3%) of the standard and 5/108 (4.6%) of the side-fenestrated catheter patients (p = 0.044). Discomfort induced by the catheter and urinary leakage beside the catheter did not differ between the groups. The clinical and pathological characteristics and complications were equal between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The side-fenestrated catheter decreased leakage rates at the urethrovesical anastomosis after RALP.
authors.affiliation: Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Jarno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riikonen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaipia
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matikainen
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskimäki
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kylmälä
authors.forename: Teuvo L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tammela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057785:Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*