Purpose: Perioperative morbidity is an essential indicator for the quality
of an operative technique. This fact is especially important in radical pro
statectomy since different treatment modalities may provide similar outcome
in terms of local tumor control.
Materials and Methods:The conventional type of radical perineal prostatecto
my is associated with a significant percentage of positive surgical margins
and was therefore substituted by a modified extended radical perineal pros
tatectomy at our institution. This procedure which includes partial resecti
on of the dorsal vein complex and extrafascial resection of the seminal ves
icals was performed in 200 patients with clinical T1 to T3 prostate cancer.
The medical records were retrospectively reviewed for perioperative morbid
ity.
Results:There was no perioperative mortality and only 7% of the patients ex
perienced postoperative complications. Blood substitution was indicated in
14% of the patients and could be reduced to 4% in the last 50 patients, The
reintervention rate was 2.5% including 3 patients in whom a rectocutaneous
fistula had to be repaired. The suction drainage was removed in 92% patien
ts within 5 days. The indwelling catheter stayed in place for less than 14
days in 89% of all patients and was removed as early as after 2-7 days in 9
2% of the last 50 patients. Anastomotic strictures were observed in 8 (5%)
of 160 patients followed for more than 6 months. 874% of patients were cons
idered continent after at least 6 months follow-up. However, pad use was re
ported in 33.6%.
Conclusion: The extended type of radical perineal prostatectomy provides ex
cellent results in terms of perioperative morbidity, although a significant
learning curve can be noted, which is indicated by blood substitution and
duration of necessary catheter drainage. Since the rate of positive surgica
l margins in pT3 tumors is low (21%) and iatrogenic positive margins in pT2
tumors are avoided, this type of prostatectomy should be performed in case
a potency sparing procedure is not indicated. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger
AG, Basel.