Removable purse-string suture of the bladder neck in transvesical prostatectomy

Insertion of the provisional Malament purse-string suture of the bladder neck proved an effective haemostatic method of treating serious haemorrhage following suprapubic prostatectomy. In a series of 15 patients, bladder-neck stenosis developed in one case, but in this patient the technique had been used incorrectly. In the other cases there were no serious complications. The method is suitable for bleeding which cannot otherwise be stopped during the operation.