Ja. Connolly et al., ANTERIOR BLADDER NECK TUBE RECONSTRUCTION AT RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY PRESERVES FUNCTIONAL URETHRAL LENGTH - A COMPARATIVE URODYNAMIC STUDY, British Journal of Urology, 75(6), 1995, pp. 766-770
Objectives To characterize the continence mechanism of anterior bladde
r neck tube reconstruction at the time of radical prostatectomy using
urodynamic evaluation. Patients and methods Prospective pre- and posto
perative urodynamic profiles were performed in patients receiving conv
entional posterior 'racket handle' closures (control group - eight pat
ients) and those receiving anterior bladder neck tube reconstruction a
t radical prostatectomy (study group - nine patients). Bladder neck tu
be reconstruction was performed by constructing 2 cm anterior bladder
neck tubes over 22 F catheters. Results A significantly longer post-op
erative functional urethral length was demonstrated using urodynamic a
ssessment in patients receiving an anterior bladder neck tube closure
(4.6 vs 3.4 cm; P<0.01). Conclusion The anterior bladder neck tube rec
onstruction may promote urinary continence in patients undergoing radi
cal prostatectomy by preservation of functional urethral length.