Perioperative complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy for Stages C and D1 prostate cancer.

The complications experienced by 205 consecutive patients who underwent bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy for surgical Stages C and D1 prostate cancer were analyzed. One hundred five patients had pathologic Stage C disease, and 100 patients had pathologic Stage D1 disease. Seven patients had thromboembolic complications. Wound or pelvic hematomas developed in 6 patients. Only two lymphoceles were detected. Rectal injuries occurred in 6 patients, of whom 4 required colostomies. The overall incidence of perioperative complications was 17 per cent. There was one postoperative death.