The efficacy of STRATAFIX® spiral PDS for vesicourethral anastomosis during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single-center retrospective study.

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of continuous suturing using barbed suture for vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). Seventy-three consecutive patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively divided based on the suture type used for VUA: group A, 3-0 poliglecaprone-25 RB-1 needle (Monocryl®), n = 46; group B, 3-0 spiral polydioxanone (PDS) barbed suture with RB-1 needle (STRATAFIX®), n = 27. There was no significant difference in patient background characteristics between groups, including age, body mass index, and clinical stage. However, group B had a significantly shorter operative time, console time, hospital stay, and duration of urethral catheterization. The VUA time was significantly shorter in group B than in group A (17.9min vs. 10.6min; p < 0.001). Only 1 case of minor leakage was observed during the intraoperative leak test (1 patient in group A). There was no significant difference in the number of pads used at 1, 3,6months and 1year postoperatively. There were no urethral strictures, and there was no significant difference in pathologic results or postoperative prostate-specific antigen progression between groups. Our study suggests that the use of barbed suture during VUA for RARP is associated with reduced VUA time.