Complications of 125iodine implantation and pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of prostatic cancer.

The operative, postoperative and late complications experienced by 300 consecutive patients who underwent 125iodine implantation and pelvic lymphadenectomy for localized prostatic cancer were analyzed. Of the patients reviewed 68 per cent had clinical stage B lesions, while 32 per cent had clinical stage C lesions. The incidence of intraoperative complications was 6 per cent. There were 2 postoperative deaths and 23 per cent of the patients had postoperative complications. Of 177 patients followed postoperatively for 6 months or more (mean 29.3 months) late morbidity was experienced by 49 (28 per cent). The incidence of impotence in 109 patients who were potent preoperatively and who were followed for a minimum of 15 months was 7 per cent.