title: A novel method of bladder neck imbrication to improve early urinary continence following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.
abstract: Early return of continence forms an important component of quality of life for patients after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP). Here we describe the steps of bladder neck imbrication and vesico-urethral anastomosis improving early continence after RALP. Between April 2008 and July 2009, 202 consecutive patients underwent RALP for clinically localised prostate cancer in a tertiary referral centre by a single surgeon. One hundred and thirty-two (65 %) of these patients agreed to participate in the study. Prior to November 2008, 51 patients underwent standard RALP as described by Patel et al. From November 2008, 81 patients underwent a novel method of bladder neck imbrication. The robotic urethro-vesical anastomosis commences on the posterior wall of the urethra and proceeds anteriorly. In our technique the anastomosis is halted with the suture arms fixed to the anterior abdominal wall. A new suture is used to perform a two-layer repair, anchoring proximally then continuing anteriorly to the level of the urethral stump, where it returns upon itself. The aim is to narrow the urethra to 16 Fr and tighten the second layer to create an imbrication effect. Posterior reconstruction was performed in all patients. Outcome measures were recorded prospectively using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite tool. Our technique shows significant improvement at all stages of follow-up in urinary summary and incontinence scores. Absolute continence rates increased from 8.2 to 20.5 %, 26.7 to 44.3 %, and 47.7 to 62.3 % at 1.5, 3 and 6 months, respectively. These results support the use of our technique in patients undergoing RALP.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Symons
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Savdie
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thanigasalam
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Clinic, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.|Department of Urology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rasiah
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia. pstricker@stvincents.com.au.|St. Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia. pstricker@stvincents.com.au.|Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Clinic, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia. pstricker@stvincents.com.au.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Stricker
keywords: Bladder neck anastomosis; Continence; Localised prostate cancer; Minimally invasive surgery; Radical prostatectomy; Robotic surgery