Effect of Reconstructive Techniques on Continence in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: Novel Combination of Long Urethral Stump and Anterior Suspension Suture

Objective: Our objective was to conduct the first investigation on the effects of the combined use of the long urethral stump and anterior suspension techniques in our patients, who underwent RALP due to localized prostate cancer (LPCa).

Material and Methods: Twenty of the participating patients did not undergo any reconstruction technique. While the remaining 20 patients underwent reconstruction which includes the long urethral stump and anterior suspension techniques. We investigated the following parameters in all patients: Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2), age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, Gleason score, D’Amico risk class, clinical stage, operation and whether the perioperative and postoperative reconstruction techniques were applied, duration of the catheterization if any of the techniques was used. The continence in 3rd, 6th and 12th months after the removal of the catheter. Both techniques were also statistically compared.

Results: A total of 40 patients were included in the study; 20 of them were in the control group and other 20 were in the recontructive group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups by means of age, BMI, ASA class, risk group, prostate weight, perioperative PSA, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalization, surgical margins and the total amount of bleeding (p> 0.05). Continence level was statistically significantly higher in the reconstructive group in the 3rd and 6th months compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: We found that the anterior suspension suturing and long urethral stump contributed to the improvement of the continence level in the early stages.

Cite this article as: Karabulut I, Yilmazel FK, Yilmaz AH, et al. Effect of Reconstructive Techniques on Continence in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: Novel Combination of Long Urethral Stump and Anterior Suspension Suture. Eurasian J Med 2020; 52(1): 57-60.