Prevention and management of perioperative complications in laparoscopic and endoscopic radical prostatectomy

Laparoscopic transperitoneal radical prostatectomy (LRP) and endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE) are established techniques for the management of localized prostate cancer in numerous specialized urologic centers worldwide. The complication rates of LRP and EERPE are ranging between 2 and 17%. Rare but possible complications are vascular injuries, bowel injury, lymphocele formation, port-site hernia, anastomotic leakage, gas embolism and catheter obstruction and other rare events. Prevention and management of complications requires high surgical expertise and adequate standardization of the technique. We herein review our experience with the endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy in a series of 1,800 consecutive patients regarding the appearance of complications and their management.