Incisional hernia after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy-predisposing factors in a prospective cohort of 250 cases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The incidence of incisional hernia after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has not been described previously. We report our prospective data in an attempt to identify factors that may predispose to this important complication.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The information contained in our prospectively collected RARP database was used to assess the incidence and predisposing factors for incisional hernia post-RARP in a single surgeon series of 250 patients.

RESULTS

The incidence of incisional hernia in our series was 4.8% (12 of 250 patients). Statistical analysis demonstrated a higher rate of incisional hernias in patients for whom the supraumbilical incision for specimen retrieval was closed with a continuous, rather than interrupted suture. Incisional hernia is associated with a significantly longer length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Urologists should be aware that incisional hernia is an important postoperative complication after RARP. Closure of linea alba with a nonabsorbable suture using an interrupted technique may help to minimize the incidence of this morbid complication.