title: The application of a blunt-tip needle to suture the dorsal venous complex in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complete haemostasis of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) is of great importance in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of blunt-tip needles in the surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were reviewed. If a blunt-tip needle had been used to suture the DVC, the patient was recruited to the blunt-tip group. If a regular needle was used, the patient was recruited to the control group. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nine cases were reviewed. A blunt-tip needle was used to suture the DVC in 67 cases, and a regular needle in 42 cases. All characteristics of the two groups are comparable (p > 0.05). In 66 cases in the blunt-tip group, no sutures or coagulations were needed when suturing the DVC, Five cases of DVC-related bleeding were observed in the control group, which is higher than in the blunt-tip group (p = 0.031). At the same time, no catheter was sutured in the blunt-tip group. All patients were followed for at least six months. The continence rate in the blunt-tip group is 89.6%, significantly higher than in the control group (73.8%, p = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a blunt-tip needle to suture the DVC may reduce DVC-related bleeding and provide a better surgical field. It may be helpful in improving postoperative continence. However, its effect on positive margin at the apex still needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4303-2796
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Huiqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chuanliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yinghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: blunt-tip needle; dorsal vein complex; haemostasis; radical prostatectomy; robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery