Vesicourethral anastomosis during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: the running suture method

Vesicourethral reconstruction is the most critical and time-consuming step of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. We describe the use of two hemicircumferential running sutures that has significantly simplified the procedure in our last 30 patients. The vesicourethral reconstruction took 31 minutes on average. Six months postoperatively, 84% of the patients were fully continent, and no bladder neck stenosis had occurred. The economy of intracorporeal suturing provided by this novel method, together with geometric factors such as the optimal position of the trocars, contributes to the improvement of ergonomy, allowing the surgeon to decrease operating times.     

Vesicourethral anastomotic stricture following radical prostatectomy with or without postoperative radiotherapy

ObjectiveTo know the incidence of vesicourethral anastomotic stricture in patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. Our secondary aim was to verify if postoperative radiotherapy increases the risk of presenting anastomotic stricture.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively checked the clinical records of patients that had undergone radical prostatectomy as their primary treatment between January 2000 and December 2008, with a minimum clinical follow-up of 12 months. Of the total patients, 258 met the foregoing requirements. Of them, 25 (9.6%) received postoperative radiotherapy, 12 (48%) received adjuvant radiotherapy and 13 (52%) received salvage radiotherapy. The mean age of the patients that received radiotherapy was 64 (46-77) years. The mean pre-radiotherapy PSA was 2.3 (0.04-26.1) ng/ ml. The mean time between surgery and radiotherapy was 17.4 (3-72) months. The mean dosage administered was 68 (58-70) Gy. The mean follow-up was 50.5 (15-177) months.ResultsOf 25 prostatectomized patients that received radiotherapy, four (16%) developed vesicourethral anastomotic stricture. The mean time from the completion of the radiotherapy until the appearance of the stricture was 4 months (1-22). On the other hand, 36 (15.4%) of the prostatectomized patients that did not receive postoperative radiotherapy presented the same complication. Comparatively, we did not note significant differences between both groups (p = 0.599).ConclusionsIn our retrospective review, postoperative radiotherapy did not significantly increase the incidence of vesicourethral anastomotic stricture.     

Vesicourethral anastomotic strictures after radical retropubic prostatectomy: the experience of a single institution

OBJECTIVE: Stricture of the vesicourethral anastomosis remains a well-documented complication after radical retropubic prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 294 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Possible correlations between anastomotic stricture formation, tumor stage, positive surgical margins, number of anastomotic sutures, bladder neck preservation, urine leakage, previous prostate surgery and/or intraoperative blood loss were examined. RESULTS: An anastomotic stricture was found in 18 cases (6%) requiring some kind of treatment. In 10 patients (56%), the bladder neck stricture occurred within 3 months after surgery, in 5 (28%) at 4-12 months after surgery and in 3 (16%) more than 12 months after surgery. Intraoperative blood loss (>1,000 ml) was found to be significantly correlated with urinary leakage (p < 0.001) and both correlated with anastomotic stricture formation (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Excessive intraoperative blood loss (>1,000 ml) and urine leakage was found to be significantly correlated to the formation of anastomotic stricture following radical retropubic prostatectomy.     

New semiautomatic suturing device (Maniceps) for precise vesicourethral anastomosis during radical retropubic prostatectomy

Performing vesicourethral anastomosis following retropubic radical prostatectomy may, under some anatomical conditions, be difficult. We describe the use of a new suturing semiautomatic device for deep surgical operations (Maniceps) to facilitate vesicourethral anastomosis. Maniceps is a pair of forceps both jaws of which have a groove at the tip. A 7 mm straight needle is set on the needle-holder jaw. By closing and reopening the forceps, the needle is moved onto the needle-receiver jaw. The use of Maniceps in vesicourethral anastomosis ensure the procedure is safe, easy and effective.     

Vesicourethral reconstruction in radical retropubic prostatectomy: an alternative technique

PURPOSE: We review an alternative method of vesicourethral reconstruction in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 91 consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated for an alternative technique for vesicourethral reconstruction which incorporates specific principles of direct suture anastomosis and the modified Vest technique. Perioperative and postoperative complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Total continence was reported in 80 of 91 patients (87.9%). Persistent moderate to severe incontinence was present in 1 patient and anastomotic stricture was identified in 7 (7.7%). Prolonged urinary extravasation was rare. CONCLUSIONS: This method of vesicourethral reconstruction appears to offer an efficient, reproducible alternative to direct suture anastomosis with acceptable complication rates.     

不同缝合方式对前列腺癌根治术后膀胱尿道吻合口狭窄发生率的影响

目的：评估在前列腺癌根治术中,以间断或连续缝合等2种不同的方法处理尿道膀胱吻合口后,远期尿道狭窄发生率的情况。方法：在2006～2010年间,国内3个临床中心共进行了549例开放或腹腔镜前列腺癌根治术。其中388例以问断缝合的方法处理膀胱尿道吻合口,161例以连续缝合的方法处理尿道膀胱吻合口,并评估术后吻合口狭窄发生率的情况。结果：45例（8．2％）患者m现术后尿道吻合口狭窄,发生的平均时间为术后4．1个月。在以间断缝合法处理吻合口的388例开放前列腺癌根治术患者中,10．1％（39例）的患者出现尿道狭窄;而在以连续吻合法处理的161例患者中,尿道狭窄发生率为3．7％（6例）,其中75例开放前列腺癌根治术后发生率为2．7％（2例）,86例腹腔镜前列腺癌根治术患者术后发生率为4．7％（4例）。结论：无论是以开放的或腹腔镜途径,用连续缝合法处理前列腺癌根治术中的尿道膀胱吻合口,术后吻合口狭窄的发生率低于间断缝合法。     

Anastomotic suture granuloma following radical retropubic prostatectomy

We report 2 cases of symptomatic suture granuloma formation after erosion of the silk suture (used to ligate the dorsal venous complex) into the urethrovesical anastomosis. Irritative or obstructive voiding complaints, sterile pyuria or hematuria found after radical retropubic prostatectomy mandates urological evaluation, including cystoscopy to rule out anastomotic suture granuloma formation. Although erosion appears to be a rare occurrence, we recommend use of absorbable suture to control the dorsal venous complex and avoid this possible complication.     

腹腔镜下根治性前列腺切除术膀胱尿道单针连续吻合法

目的 介绍一种简单易行的腹腔镜下膀胱尿道连续吻合法. 方法 前列腺癌患者45例.均行根治性前列腺切除术,并采用单针连续吻合法进行膀胱尿道吻合:首先在膀胱后壁4点处做一单纯全层缝合并打结固定;然后在其附近处另起1针做顺时针膀胱尿道单纯连续缝合;从5点到8点处,每点吻合1针以确保后壁的严密;以后每2点吻合1针;为防止滑脱,每吻合3针做1针锁边吻合;最后在2点处与原预留线尾打第2个结完成吻合.吻合膀胱壁时遵循"由外到内"原则,吻合尿道壁时遵循"由内到外"原则;如出现吻合121漏,则加用单纯缝合来修补. 结果 所有吻合均顺利完成.吻合时间12～25 min,平均16 min.手术时间112～185 min,平均132 min.尿管留置7～14d,平均9 d.3例因发生暂时性漏尿需延长尿管留置时间至2周.44例(97.8%)术后1年内完全尿控,1例(2.2%)因轻微尿失禁每天使用尿垫2片;无尿道缩窄及其他短期或永久性并发症. 结论 单针连续缝合法耗时短,相对简单,易于掌握,并发症并未相应增加.     

前列腺癌根治术后并发膀胱尿道吻合口狭窄的病因分析

通过分析前列腺癌根治术后并发膀胱尿道吻合口狭窄的诸多病因作一综述。通过PubMed检索平台,广泛检索近20年的英文文献。分析大样本(N100例)临床中心研究数据。所有纳入此综述的文献报告病例均是早期局限的前列腺癌患者。前列腺癌根治术后膀胱尿道吻合口狭窄的病因目前仍无统一定论,期待进一步的临床试验研究明确其病因并以此为依据有效预防此类并发症的发生。     

Management of recurrent anastomotic stenosis following radical prostatectomy using holmium laser and steroid injection

OBJECTIVE

To present our experience with the management of recurrent and resistant anastomotic stenosis following radical prostatectomy (RP) using transurethral laser incision of the stenotic area and injection of steroids.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1999 and April 2006, we evaluated 24 patients with anastomotic stenosis that would not allow the passage of the flexible cystoscope (17 F). Using the paediatric 7.5 F Olympus scope and a 550‐µm fibre holmium laser, deep incisions were cut at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions at the bladder neck, and then triamcinolone was injected at the incision sites. Another session was then scheduled for office cystoscopy 6 weeks later, and if that showed evidence of annularity, another incision was made, as described above.

RESULTS

All 24 patients had RP for localized disease, 21 were retropubic and two were perineal, and one laparoscopic. Five patients had adjuvant radiotherapy. The mean patient age was 64 years. Nineteen (79%) patients had previous attempts to open the bladder neck: eight patients had dilatation, eight patients had internal urethrotomy, five patients underwent transurethral resection of the bladder neck, and six patients had open surgical intervention. The procedure was done once in 17 patients, and twice in seven patients. After a mean (range) follow up of 24 (6–72) months, 19 patients (83%) had a well‐healed and widely patent bladder neck. Of the 24 patients, 17 had urinary incontinence (UI) associated with the bladder neck contracture. An artificial urinary sphincter was implanted in 11 patients, three of which had to be explanted for malfunction in two, and erosion in one.

CONCLUSION

Holmium laser bladder neck incision and steroid injection for anastomotic stenosis after RP had a success rate of 83% in this small series. It can be used safely as a primary treatment, or in some cases, for resistant and recurrent stenosis. It appears that insertion of an artificial sphincter can be done in patients with UI when the bladder neck remains patent for at least 8 weeks.     

Open reconstruction of recurrent vesicourethral anastomotic stricture after radical prostatectomy

Objectives

To determine the outcomes of open vesicourethral anastomotic reconstruction (VUAR) for outlet stenosis following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

Review of all cases of VUAR within an IRB-approved database was performed. Preoperative factors assessed included cancer treatment modality, duration of symptoms, prior treatments, and length of defect. Outcomes reviewed included length-of-stay (LOS), complications, maintenance of patency, continence, and need for additional procedures.

Results

Twelve cases of VUAR performed by a single surgeon (BJF) from 2004 to 2012 were identified. Surgical approaches were either abdominal (7), perineal (3), or abdominoperineal (2). All patients underwent prior RP, with 25 % having subsequent radiotherapy. Among patients with stenosis, 43 % were completely obliterated. Two cases had prior anastomotic disruption in the early postoperative period after RP. The median length of stenosis was 2.5 cm (range 1–5 cm) and median LOS was 3.0 days (range 1–7 days). At a median follow-up of 75.5 months (range 14–120 months), 92 % of men retained patency; only 25 % were continent.

Conclusion

In experienced hands, VUAR can restore durable patency for men afflicted with outlet stenosis after RP. Despite anatomic restoration, incontinence is likely.     

Endoscopic management of urethrovesical anastomotic obliteration following radical retropubic prostatectomy

Urethrovesical anastomotic obliterative strictures are uncommonly reported sequelae of radical retropubic prostatectomy. We report a method to re-establish endoscopically continuity between the bladder and urethra after this complication.     

Fenestrated urethral catheter to aid anastomotic drainage after radical prostatectomy

A simple technique using a fenestrated urethral catheter to assist in drainage of pericatheter urethral exudates from the anastomosis of the urethra to the bladder neck in radical prostatectomy is described. It is applicable to open and laparoscopic techniques of radical prostatectomy.     

Predicting blood loss during radical prostatectomy using internal pelvimetry

We retrospectively evaluated the possibility of predicting estimated blood loss (EBL) in 39 consecutive patients undergoing retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) using pelvimetry under a single surgeon at our institution from April 2004 to March 2006. For pelvimetry, the area of pelvic entrance (APE) and view of prostatic apex (VPA) were evaluated using preoperative images. Other perioperative data were also recorded, including the patient's age, prostate specific antigen (PSA), body mass index (BMI), use of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, operative time and pathological data (such as pathological T factor and specimen weight). The relationship between these factors and EBL was analyzed. Average EBL was 761 ml (ranging from 232 to 2,149) and autologous blood transfusion was not performed. There was no statistically significant correlation or difference between EBL and perioperative parameters excluding APE, VPA and BMI. Multivariate analysis showed that the most influential factor for EBL was VPA (p = 0.001). A significantly lower EBL was seen in patients with a wide APE (125 or more), good VPA, and acceptable BMI (less than 25 kg/m2) versus other patients (429 +/- 137 ml vs 934 +/- 358 ml, p < 0.0001). Our findings demonstrate the potential of pelvimetric analysis such as the measurement of APE and the evaluation of VPA, as a useful tool for predicting blood loss during RRP. Moreover, these data also indicate that blood preparation may be spared in patients with acceptable BMI, wide APE, and good VPA.     

Vesicourethral anastomosis biopsy after radical prostatectomy: predictive value of prostate-specific antigen and pathologic stage

Objectives. To assess the role of clinical parameters and pathologic stage in predicting a positive vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) biopsy in patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after radical prostatectomy.Methods. Forty-five patients were referred for a rising PSA level after radical prostatectomy. Transrectal ultrasound evaluation included visualization of the VUA and VUA quadrant biopsies. The rate of positive biopsies (per core and per patient) was correlated with race, PSA level, and the radical prostatectomy pathologic stage.Results. Overall, 53% of patients had a positive biopsy. In multivariate analysis, the dominant independent and synergistic clinical parameters determining positive biopsy rates were a PSA greater than 1 ng/mL at the time of biopsy and the pathologic stage (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). Using a PSA cutoff point of 1.0 ng/mL, those patients with organ-confined disease and a PSA of 1.0 ng/mL or less showed no positive cancer cores (low-risk group). Conversely, 89% of patients with extraprostatic extension and a PSA greater than 1.0 ng/mL had a positive biopsy (P <0.01) (high-risk group). Patients with organ-confined disease and a PSA greater than 1.0 ng/mL or extraprostatic extension and a PSA 1.0 ng/mL or less (intermediate-risk group) had a significantly higher chance of having residual cancer than the low-risk group (P <0.025).Conclusions. The PSA level at the time of biopsy and the pathologic stage of the radical prostatectomy specimen were the strongest determinants of a positive biopsy. A combination of PSA and pathologic stage is useful for decisions regarding VUA biopsy. Patients with organ-confined disease and a PSA of 1.0 ng/mL or less do not appear to benefit from a VUA biopsy, and patients with extraprostatic extension and a PSA greater than 1.0 ng/mL have such a high probability (89%) of local recurrence at the VUA that biopsy may be unnecessary. It appears that VUA biopsy can be restricted to those patients with an intermediate risk (organ-confined disease with PSA greater than 1 ng/mL or extraprostatic extension with a PSA less than 1 ng/mL).