Postoperative hemorrhage following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy controlled with external penile...

We report a postoperative hemorrhage of the dorsal vein complex after transperitoneal robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy managed with external penile compression. Control of the dorsal vein required two sutures, and the estimated blood loss due to the procedure was 400 ml. Severe gross hematuria developed on postoperative day 2, but this quickly subsided with external compression at the base of the penis. Transfusions were required, but the patient refused re-exploration. A self-adherent bandage was applied circumferentially to the entire penis for 48 h. During this time there was no further hematuria, and the patient recovered uneventfully.