PURPOSE: We reviewed our recent experience with inguinal lymph node dissection in patients with penile cancer in order to assess the incidence and magnitude of complications caused by this procedure.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Radical bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy were performed in 170 patients, totaling 340 procedures. Prophylactic and therapeutic radical inguinal lymphadenectomies were performed in 67 (39.4%) and 103 (60.6%) patients, respectively. Surgical time and length of hospital stay were examined. Complications were divided into minor and major, early (30 days or less after surgery) and late (greater than 30 days), and were then analyzed.
RESULTS: A total of 35 (10.3%) complications were observed; of these, 25 (71.4%) were minor and 10 (28.6%) major complications. Lymphedema occurred in 14 (4.1%) patients, seroma in 4 (1.2%), scrotal edema in 3 (0.9%), skin edge necrosis in 3 (0.9%), lymphoceles in 3 (0.9%), wound infection in 2 (0.6%), flap necrosis in 2 (0.6%), wound abscess in 2 (0.6%), and deep venous thrombosis in 2 (0.6%) patients. There was no significant difference in the complication rates between patients undergoing prophylactic dissection and those undergoing therapeutic dissection. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.4 days (range 4 to 27) and the average time for performing radical unilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy was 94 minutes.
CONCLUSIONS: Our contemporary series presents a lower incidence of complications such as: wound infection, skin flap necrosis, lymphocele, and lymphedema. To our knowledge, this series presents the lowest incidence rate of complications described in the international literature.
Written by:
Koifman L, Hampl D, Koifman N, Vides AJ, Ornellas AA. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Mário Kröeff Hospital; Department of Urology, Souza Aguiar Municipal Hospital.
Reference: J Urol. 2013 Jun 11. pii: S0022-5347(13)04602-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.06.016
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23770135
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