Purpose: We prospectively tested the safety of routine removal of the cathe
ter as early as 2 to 4 days after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
Materials and Methods: Between March 1998 and March 2001, 228 patients unde
rwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for clinically organ confined pros
tate cancer. The last 113 consecutive patients were included in a prospecti
ve study according to gravitational cystography performed 2 to 4 days posto
peratively. If no leak was seen the catheter was removed. If a leak was app
arent the catheter was left indwelling for another 6 days and cystography w
as repeated.
Results: Cystography 2 to 4 days postoperatively showed an anastomosis with
out a leak in 96 (84.9%) patients who subsequently had the catheters remove
d. There were 28 patients who had the catheter removed on postoperative day
2, 28 day 3 and 40 day 4. In 17 (15.1%) patients an anastomotic leak was o
bserved, and the catheter was not removed at that time. Of the 96 patients
in whom the catheter was removed early 10 (10.4%) had urinary retention tha
t necessitated re-catheterization. This procedure was performed without the
need for cystoscopy, After the catheter was removed all patients were able
to void 24 hours later. Median followup was 7 months (range 1 to 15) and s
howed continence rates greater than 93%. No anastomotic stricture, pelvic a
bscess or urinoma developed in any patient.
Conclusions: Patients who undergo laparoscopic radical prostatectomy can ha
ve the catheter safely removed 2 to 4 days postoperatively without a higher
risk of incontinence, stricture or leak related problems.