title: Transrectal ultrasound guidance for early transurethral recatheterization after radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the usefulness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for catheter guidance in cases of early reinsertion after radical prostatectomy (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 2007, we have used TRUS for catheter guidance when early reinsertion after RP is required. A preliminary TRUS examination is done to carefully check the state of the vesicourethral anastomosis. The entire catheter insertion, from bulbar urethra to the bladder, is followed step by step by transrectal ultrasound imaging that tracks, while the probe pushes the catheter through a correct entering line. This prevents the incorrect placement of the catheter across the posterior aspect of the anastomosis in a posterior extravesical place.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2007 and 2011, 2,165 RPs were performed at reference hospital for prostate cancer. Early catheter reinsertion was required for 56 patients (2.6 %). All procedures were successful. The incidence of vesicourethral stricture after long-term follow-up was not different from that of patients without early recatheterization who were operated with RP in the same period of the study (4.4 vs 4.2 %, respectively; p = 0.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If early recatheterization is required in patients recently operated with RP, we suggest catheter guidance with TRUS.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Urologia, Istituto Clinico Città Studi, Milan, Italy ; Via Falcone E Borsellino, 1, 20090 Segrate, MI Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raber
keywords: Anastomosis; Radical prostatectomy; Ultrasonography; Urethral catheterization