Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: perioperative complications in an initial and consecutive series of 80 cases.

Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated the intraoperative and early postoperative complications of the initial experience with the first 80 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed at our institution.

Methods: Between January 17, 2001 and July 24, 2002, 80 patients between 53 and 78 years old (mean age 63.8) with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the Montsouris technique. A total of 24 (30%) staging pelvic lymphadenectomy were performed. The inpatient and outpatient medical records as well as all complications were reviewed.

Results: The pathological tumor stage revealed 18 pT2a (22.5%), 29 pT2b (36.25%), 21 pT3a (26.25%), 10 pT3b (12.5%), 1 pT4 (1.25%), 1 pT4 N1 (1.25%). No conversion was necessary in all cases. Mean operative time was 218 minutes (range 150-420) overall, mean blood loss was 376 ml (range 50-1000) and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.5 days (range 3-9). The mean and the median duration of bladder catheterization were respectively 11 and 10 days (range 7-23). Injury to the epigastric vessels was detected intraoperatively in 5 cases (6.25%) with immediate hemostasis achieved. There was 1 death (1.25%) 35 days after a cerebrovascular accident occurred on postoperative day 3. We observed 1 (1.25%) postoperative ileus, hemoperitoneum in 5 cases (6.25%), 2 (2.5%) acute urinary retentions, 6 (7.5%) anastomotic leakages, 1 (1.25%) anastomotic stricture, 1 (1.25%) hydrocele and 2 (2.5%) urinary tract infections.

Conclusions: In our initial experience laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed with no complications in 77.5% of patients. We observed major and minor complications respectively in 16.25% and 6.25% of the patients. Our series provides evidence that the laparoscopic approach is feasible and associated with acceptable perioperative morbidity.