Management of rectal injury during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Abstract

Purpose: Because laparoscopic radical prostatectomy remains a challenging procedure, rectal injury is always a potential complication. We review the incidence of rectal injuries at our institution in the first 110 consecutive laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomies. Materials and Methods: Nine (8%) out of the first 110 laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomies performed between December 2001 and February 2004, were complicated by rectal injury. Mean patient age was 64.9 years (range 52 to 74) and mean prostate specific antigen was 11.45 ng/mL (range 4.8 to 37.4). Median preoperative Gleason score was 6 (range 4 to 8) and clinical stage was T1c, T2a, T2b in 6, 2 and 1 patient, respectively. Mean operative time was 228 minutes (range 150 to 300). Results: From 9 injuries, 6 were diagnosed and repaired intraoperatively and 3 were diagnosed postoperatively. From the 6 cases of intraoperative diagnosis and repair, 3 patients healed primarily without colostomy and a r