Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse whether a side-fenestrated urinary catheter can decrease the frequency of anastomotic leakage after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).
Material and methods: Two-hundred and fifty patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing RALP were randomized into standard and side-fenestrated catheter groups in a prospective randomized study. The catheter was fenestrated at the site of the anastomosis to improve drainage. A cystogram was taken at 7 ± 2 days postoperatively to verify the watertightness of the anastomosis. The patients were monitored for 3 months.
Results: The study included 106 patients with the standard and 108 patients with the fenestrated catheter. Leakage at the urethrovesical anastomosis was found in 13/106 (12.3%) of the standard and 5/108 (4.6%) of the side-fenestrated catheter patients (p = 0.044). Discomfort induced by the catheter and urinary leakage beside the catheter did not differ between the groups. The clinical and pathological characteristics and complications were equal between the groups.
Conclusions: The side-fenestrated catheter decreased leakage rates at the urethrovesical anastomosis after RALP.