Endoscopically controlled placement of urethrovesical anastomotic sutures after radical retropubic prostatectomy

Radical retropubic prostatectomy is a challenging surgical procedure. One of the technically demanding aspects of this surgery is the urethrovesical anastomosis. We have used a 21F cystoscope in selected patients to enhance the quality of our urethrally placed anastomotic sutures. This technique may be a beneficial adjunct in those cases in which delineation of the transected urethral margin is difficult to identify secondary to urethral retraction and should be considered an addition to the presently available armamentarium of maneuvers used to make the urethrovesical anastomosis technically easier and more precise.