[Complications of radical prostatectomy].

Between 1969 and 1984 a radical prostatectomy was performed in 175 patients for localized carcinoma of the prostate. This corresponds to a percentage of 18,2% of 962 patients with cancer of the prostate admitted to this hospital during the same period of time. The intra- and postoperative complications following radical prostatectomy in this series of 175 patients are analyzed. In 144 patients a retropubic prostatectomy was performed, whereas in 31 patients the perineal approach was utilized. There was a mortality rate of 1.1% (2 patients). Rectal injuries in 7 patients and ureteral transsection in 2 patients accounted for intraoperative complications. In the early postoperative period non-fatal pulmonary embolism occurred in 4 and myocardial infarction in 3 patients. In 3 cases (1,7%) a transitory hemodialysis became necessary because of renal insufficiency. Lymphoceles had to be treated in 22 patients (12,6%) and hematomas in 9 patients (5,1%). Persistent total urinary incontinence was observed in 8 patients (5%) and stress incontinence of varying degree in 25% of cases. The causes of these complications are analyzed and possible ways of preventing and treating them are discussed.