Management of prolonged urinary leakage at the urethro-vesical anastomosis.

Urinary leakage at the urethrovesical anastomosis is a rare but troublesome complication after radical prostatectomy. Usually, the anastomosis is almost watertight when tested during the operation and small leakages typically seal off in a few days. We describe 3 cases with postoperative urinary leakage where we have utilized a simple procedure of replacing the standard Foley catheter with another catheter with extra side fenestrations close to the anastomosis. Side fenestrations provide efficient drainage at the anastomosis area leading to a rapid resolution of the leakage. The method described represents an effective and low-risk solution to a potentially harmful complication. Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel