[Simplified vesico-urethral anastomosis after radical retropubic prostatectomy for cancer. A preliminary comparative study].

The authors have done a prospective non randomized study to compare two methods of radical retropubic prostatectomy, without bladder neck preservation (Group 1 = 30 patients) or with bladder neck preservation (Group 2 = 15 patients). Anastomosis was simplified for the 15 patients with bladder neck preservation according to the Vest suture procedure. A comparative urodynamical study was performed with each group. Selection for one or the other technique was made by the personal choice or every surgeon. Results were similar for pre operative clinical staging, Gleason score with both groups. There was no significant difference in survival, progression of the disease and three month PSA level as those of the last follow-up visit (18-96 months). There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding operative time, blood loss, urethral catheterization time, drainage output and mean hospitalisation time. The only significant difference was the number of post operative transfused blood units in the Vest suture group (p < 0.001). There were no positive margin on the preserved bladder neck in group 2, even if there was finally an understaging or another apical positive margins. Complications were not significantly different in the two groups with 10 bladder neck strictures in the group 1 (33%) and only 2 in the group 2 (14.2%) (NS). Complete continence rate was 73.3% and 64.2% respectively (NS). Bladder neck incision was never followed by incontinence. On urodynamical study, 9 cases in each group were compared and both were similar but there was a tendency to a higher urethral pressure in group 2. Comments pointed out that bladder neck preservation and simplified Vest traction suture did not give more post operative nor carcinological complications than classical technique with direct separate stitches sutures. Disease progression, continence and bladder neck stricture rates were compared to literature. The urodynamical results were the same as those observed by others studies.