Controlled balloon dilatation for laparoscopic extraperitoneal bladder neck suspension in patients with previous abdominal surgery.

PURPOSE: The balloon dilator is used in a variety of minimally invasive preperitoneal and retroperitoneal operations. In this study, we compared the ability to create an extraperitoneal cavity using a balloon spacer in patients with and without previous abdominal surgery undergoing laparoscopic bladder neck suspension.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This prospective study included 38 patients in total, 15 of whom had had previous abdominal wall surgery and 23 who had not. A balloon spacer technique was used to develop the extraperitoneal space.

RESULTS

In 80% of the patients with previous surgery, the introduction of the balloon spacer was recorded as simple; in 20%, it was considered difficult. In 78% of the patients without previous surgery, the introduction of the balloon spacer was recorded as simple, in 17% it was difficult, and in 4% it failed. In 80% of the patients with previous surgery, the extraperitoneal view was good or acceptable, in 20% it was poor, and in 13% it failed. In 92% of the patients without previous surgery, the extraperitoneal view was good or acceptable, in 4% it was poor, and in 4% dilatation failed. Morbidity was equally divided between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous abdominal surgery is not a contraindication to laparoscopic extraperitoneal surgery using a balloon spacer. The approach carries low morbidity, similar to that in patients without previous abdominal surgery.