Published online Jul 24, 2017. doi: 10.5410/wjcu.v6.i2.44
Peer-review started: December 31, 2016
First decision: January 26, 2017
Revised: March 9, 2017
Accepted: April 16, 2017
Article in press: April 17, 2017
Published online: July 24, 2017
Processing time: 203 Days and 19.4 Hours
To compare outcomes after open simple prostatectomy without bladder irrigation, in subjects drained by combined 2-way urethral catheter and suprapubic catheter (SPC) vs those drained by 2-way urethral catheter only.
A total of 84 participants undergoing Freyer’s simple prostatectomy over an 18-mo period were randomized into 2 groups (n = 42). Subjects in group 1 were managed with 2-way urethral catheter and in situ 2-way SPC while subjects in group 2 had a 2-way urethral catheter drainage only. In group 1 subjects, the SPC was spigotted and only used for drainage if there was clot retention. The primary outcomes were number of clot retention episodes, and number of clot retention episodes requiring bladder syringe evacuation. Other secondary outcomes evaluated were blood loss, requirement of extra analgesics, duration of surgery, hospital stay and presence or absence of post-op complications.
The mean age in the groups was 65.7 (± 7.6) in group 1 vs 64.8 (± 6.8) in group 2. The groups were similar with respect to age, prostate specific antigen, prostate volume, blood loss, duration of surgery, blood transfusion and overall complication rate. However statistically significant differences were observed in clot retention episodes between group 1 and 2: 0.8 (± 1.5) vs 3.5 (± 4.4), P < 0.000, clot retention episodes requiring evacuation with bladder syringe 0.4 (± 0.9) vs 2.6 (± 3.8), P = 0.001, requirement of extra analgesics 0.4 (± 0.5) vs 4.0 (± 1.5), P < 0.000 and duration of admission 8.6 d (± 1.2) vs 7.3 d (± 0.6), P < 0.000.
Subjects drained with a combination of urethral and SPCs have fewer clot retention episodes and reduced requirement of extra analgesics but slightly longer hospital stay.
Core tip: Most urologists will agree that the most worrisome post operative challenge after open suprapubic prostatectomy (OSP) is post operative haemorrhage and the attendant clot retention. This paper seeks to show that the use of a combination of suprapubic and urethral catheters as opposed to using only a urethral catheter to drain the bladder after OSP is associated with reduced clot retention episodes, reduced clot retention episodes requiring bladder syringe evacuation and therefore less post operative morbidity.