[Early complications of radical prostatectomy. Pelvic vein compression caused by wound drainage]

Deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolism is a common complication following urologic pelvic surgery, with incidences up to 80% being reported. We report on a 71-year-old patient with prostate cancer, who showed clinical and radiological signs of pulmonary embolism with no evidence of a deep vein thrombosis 14 days after radical prostatectomy. Phlebography revealed compression of the left external iliac vein by the drainage tube as the potential cause of the pulmonary embolism. The drainage tube was repositioned under CT control. The ultrasound Doppler technique confirmed unimpaired flow in the left external iliac vein after repositioning. Drainage tubes should be positioned far enough medially to avoid compression of the iliac vessels.