[Results of total prostatectomy for treatment of prostatic cancer]

Between 1970 and 1989, total prostatectomy was performed in 31 patients with prostatic cancer at the Department of Urology, Tokyo Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital. These cases were composed of 4 cases of stage A, 8 cases of stage B and 19 cases of stage C. The surgical procedures were perineal prostatectomy in 25 cases, combined method of perineal and retropubic prostatectomy in 5 cases and transsacral prostatectomy in one case. Blood loss was 762 ml on the average. Blood transfusion was unnecessary in 15 cases all of whom underwent perineal prostatectomy. Endocrine or radiation therapy were administered after total prostatectomy to 23 or 13 cases, respectively. Postoperative complications included early postoperative death due to apoplexy in 1 cases, recto-vesical fistula in 1, bladder neck or urethral stricture in 9 (mild 7, severe 2) and urinary incontinence in 20 (mild 13, moderate 4, severe 3). Frequency and grade of urinary incontinence tended to become higher as the pathological stage progressed. The 5-year survival rates for clinical stage A and B, and C were 83% and 63%, respectively. We conclude that total perineal prostatectomy was less traumatic operation for prostatic cancer, and would be indicated in clinical stage A and B for radical operation and in stage C for one of the combination therapy.