We evaluated the feasibility and impact on short- and long-term functional outcomes of very early catheter removal on postoperative day (POD) 2 after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multisurgeon study with the largest cohort on very early (POD 2) catheter removal after RARP with follow-up of >1 yr. In 255/369 patients (69%) treated with RARP ± pelvic lymph node dissection, the catheter was removed on POD 2. Among the 255 patients, 33 (13%) required recatheterisation because of acute urinary retention after catheter removal. Of these 33 patients, five (2%) also experienced anastomotic leakage after catheter removal. The early (≤3 mo) urinary continence rate was 67% and the median time to urinary continence recovery was 1 mo. After median follow-up of 18 mo (interquartile range 13-24), 236 patients (88%) were continent. No anastomotic strictures occurred. Our observations confirm the feasibility and safety of POD 2 catheter removal after RARP and support its adoption for selected patients. PATIENT SUMMARY: After removal of the prostate for cancer, patients have a urinary catheter inserted. We investigated whether earlier removal of the catheter affects long-term urinary continence. The results show that it may be safe to remove the catheter on postoperative day 2 for selected patients.
European urology focus. 2021 Oct 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Dries Develtere, Giuseppe Rosiello, Pietro Piazza, Carlo Andrea Bravi, Abhishek Pandey, Camille Berquin, Celine Sinatti, Hannah Van Puyvelde, Stefano Puliatti, Marco Amato, Rui Farinha, Elisabeth Pauwels, Ruben De Groote, Peter Schatteman, Geert De Naeyer, Frederiek D'Hondt, Alexandre Mottrie
Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Urology and Division of Experimental Oncology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium; IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Urology, Paediatric Urology and Uro-oncology, Sana Klinikum Hof, Hof, Germany., Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium., Department of Urology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium; ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Urology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy., ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.