COMPARISON OF 2 DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AFTER RADICAL RETROPUBIC PROSTATECTOMY

After radical retropubic prostatectomy 45 patients with soft drains an d 48 patients with vacudrain redons were compared with regard to the d rainage duration, amount of fluid drained, necessity of postoperative transfusion and frequency of lymphoceles. Drainage volumes during the first postoperative day did not differ, whereas the amount of drainage of the second postoperative day and the total amount were significant ly more reduced in the vacudrain-group than in the soft-drain-group. T he vacudrain redons could be removed significantly earlier (p < 0,0001 ). The postoperative decrease of hemoglobin was 1,5 g/dl (vacudrain) v s. 2,0 g/dl (soft drain) (p = 0,053) with no consequence for the trans fusion frequency. Daily sonographic examination showed lymphoceles in 27% of patients (soft drain) vs. 6,3% (vacudrain redon), but only 7 (s oft drain) versus 2% (vacudrain redon) of patients required temporary percutaneous drainage. There was no difference in postoperative wound- infection. We prefer the vacudrain redon because of its earlier remova l and the lower incidence of lymphoceles, thus reducing postoperative morbidity.