Post-operative drain output as a predictor of bladder neck contracture following radical prostatectomy

Background Bladder neck contracture (BNC) following prostatectomy has been reported in 0.5–32% of cases. While the etiology of a BNC is unclear, several factors have been associated with this complication, including blood loss, devascularization of bladder neck tissue, poor mucosal apposition and urinary extravasation. To study the impact of urinary extravasation on BNC formation, we used post-operative drain output as a surrogate measure for anastomotic leakage. Methods All patients undergoing a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) or a robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) from January 2000 to April 2006 have been entered into a prospective review board-approved database. All RRP patients had their anastomosis performed in an interrupted fashion using six monofilament 2-0 sutures. All robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy anastomoses were performed in a running fashion using 2-0 monofilament sutures. A single, closed suction Jackson Pratt drain was placed over the surgical bed at the conclusion of the case. Post-operative drain outputs were recorded. All patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. All patients who reported a diminished urinary stream or incontinence were evaluated by office cystoscopy. The inability to navigate an 18 French cystoscope through the bladder neck was defined as a bladder neck contracture. Results A total of 576 patients underwent a radical prostatectomy over this time span. Complete records were available for 535 (93%) of these patients. There were 21 bladder neck contractures (3.9%) overall. The post-operative drain output ranged from 5–5,465 ml (median 119 ml). Eight patients who had drain outputs less than 119 ml developed a BNC while 13 BNC developed in patients with Jackson Pratt drain output >119 ml ( P = 0.343). In patients who underwent an open RRP, 19/424 (4.5%) developed contractures while 2/108 (1.9%) RARP patients developed a BNC ( P = 0.105). Conclusion The amount of post-operative drain output is not statistically associated with the development of a bladder neck contracture.