Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of FloSeal(®) hemostatic matrix in preventing lymphocele development after pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA).
Materials and methods: This was a single-center, matched comparison of lymphadenectomies in laparoscopic and robot-assisted extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (ERP) performed with and without FloSeal between January 2008 and October 2009. FloSeal was applied topically in the lymphadenectomy zone immediately after node resection. Cost analysis for lymphocele treatment was performed.
Results: A total of 142 patients underwent PLA with ERP (32 with FloSeal, 110 without FloSeal). The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 6.5±4.5 (range 2-20). Median prostate-specific antigen concentration was 8.5 ng/mL (range 1.5-24 ng/mL). There was one (3.1%) symptomatic lymphocele in the FloSeal group compared with 16 (14.5%) in the non-FloSeal group. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 8 (range 5-20) in the FloSeal group and seven (range 3-25) in the non-FloSeal group. The only lymphocele in the FloSeal group was treated with percutaneous drainage alone. In the non-FloSeal group, six symptomatic lymphoceles were managed conservatively-four with percutaneous puncture and six with fenestration after percutaneous drainage. The mean cost per patient of treating symptomatic lymphoceles was €327 ($455) in the FloSeal group (total costs €10,481 [$14,559]) vs €553 ($769) (total costs €60,870 [$84,551]) in the non-FloSeal group.
Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that the use of FloSeal after lymphadenectomy can reduce the number of symptomatic lymphoceles and is cost-effective.