Abstract
Pelvic drain (PD) placement is commonly performed after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), but the need for PD placement is unclear. This study aimed to assess the need for PD placement after RARP. This retrospective study analysed the effect of PD placement on postoperative complications in patients who underwent RARP between 2009 and 2018. All patients prior to October 1, 2016 had a PD placed; those after did not. Of the 308 study patients, 231 received a PD (PD group) and 77 did not (ND group). The incidence of ileus, urinary tract infection and anastomotic leak did not differ significantly between the groups; nor did the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic lymphocele at 2 weeks and 1 year after surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node dissection is a predictor of asymptomatic lymphocele development two weeks after surgery. PD placement is not necessary after RARP.
Highlights
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men [1]
The median preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was significantly lower in the Pelvic drain (PD) group than in the no PD (ND) group (6.8 ng/ml and 5.8 ng/ml, respectively, p=0.03)
There were no significant differences between the two groups in median body mass index (BMI), biopsy Gleason score (GS), clinical stage, D’Amico risk classification, history of abdominal surgery, proportion of patients receiving neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy, or median estimated prostate volume (PV)
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men [1]. Pelvic drain (PD) placement is commonly performed after RARP to prevent the formation of urinary cysts, pelvic hematomas and lymphoceles that would require further treatment. RARP has the same oncological outcome as ORP [7, 8] and is associated with shorter operation time and length of hospital stay, less bleeding and higher rate of erectile function improvement [8,9,10]. This raises a question regarding the need for routine pelvic drainage after RARP. We present an uncontrolled before-after study that examined outcomes of PD placement, focusing on prevention of lymphoceles and other complications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
