Experience with early catheter removal after radical retropubic prostatectomy

PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that early catheter removal may be accomplished safely after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cystography on postoperative day 4 or 5 in 42 of 67 consecutive patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy revealed no extravasation in 30 and the urethral catheter was removed (group 1). The control group included 25 patients who did not undergo cystography, and the catheter was removed 14 days postoperatively (group 2). RESULTS: Immediate and late continence was achieved in 14 (46.7%) and 25 (83.3%) cases in group 1, and in 8 (32%) and 22 (88%) cases in group 2, respectively (p>0.05). Catheterization was performed easily without any endoscopic or surgical procedure in 2 patients (6.7%) in group 1 who presented in urinary retention after catheter removal. Wound infection and pelvic abscess developed in 1 case (3.3%). There were no late complications. In group 2 urinary retention developed in 1 patient (4%), wound infection in 1 (4%) and hematuria in 1 (4%). Two patients (8%) had late vesical neck contracture at 4 and 10 months, respectively, which required urethrotomy in 1. In 1 patient (4%) a stricture in the anterior urethra was dilated. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that early catheter removal may be accomplished safely in most patients after radical retropubic prostatectomy, and was not associated with a higher complication rate.