Abstract

Purpose: To safely avoid the routine placement of a pelvic drain after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), a novel strategic clipping technique during pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) is presented to primarily decrease postoperative lymphatic leakage.

Material and Methods: We performed 76 LRP in which pelvic drainage was not placed. We described a novel technique in PLND and evaluated results and postoperative complications.

Results: Only one patient (1.31%) presented a complicated lymphocele that required percutaneous drainage under computed tomography guidance and antibiotic therapy. There were no cases of urinoma or anastomotic stricture.

Conclusion: The performance of a strategic clipping technique during the PLND associated with a bladder neck preservation and absence of urinary leakage allowed us to safely avoid the placement of a pelvic drain after the LRP.

Keywords: Prostate cancer; Radical prostatectomy; Pelvic lymphadenectomy; Pelvic drainage