Complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy and retropubic prostatic 125I implantation

Pelvic lymphadenectomy was accomplished in 75 patients with localized prostatic cancer at the time of retropubic prostatic implantation with iodine-125. Twelve (16 per cent) surgical complications were encountered in 11 patients and included 1 death. Late complications which persisted six months or longer occurred in 5 (8 per cent) of 61 patients. The most serious and as yet unquantitated complication appears to be pelvic vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. PELVIC LYMPHADenectomy may be accomplished safely and with minimal morbidity in the vast majority of prostatic cancer patients.