ENDOSCOPIC SHIELDING OF RECTOURETHRAL FISTULA AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY; REPORT OF A CASE

Rectourethral fistulais a relatively rare complication of radical prostatectomy but is extremely difficult to treat. We report a case with post-laparoscopic radical prostatectomy rectourethral fistula, treated with only endoscopic shielding.A 75-year-old man had undergone laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, cT2cN0M0. Although there was no finding of rectal injury during the operation, pneumaturia, pyuria and diarrhea appeared at postoperative day 21 and diagnosed rectourethral fistula by colonoscopy and amidotrizoic acid enema. The fistula did not close spontaneously. Four months after the prostatectomy, we treated with endoscopic shielding by use of polyglycolic acid sheets and fibrin glue. The fistula have not recurred for 20 months after the endoscopic procedure.This method is simple and less-invasive for patients. We think it is worth trying this method before surgical management for narrow rectourethral fistula following radical prostatectomy.