Utility of a Pigtail Cope Loop Catheter for Bladder Drainage in Treating a Large/Persistent Urethrovesical Anastomotic Leak Following Radical Prostatectomy

Rohit Bhatt, Alethea Paradis, Ramakrishna Venkatesh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: A large or persistent urethrovesical anastomotic leakage after a laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) although infrequent can be a difficult complication to treat. We describe a simple technique to facilitate resolution of a urethrovesical anastomotic leak by exchanging the in-place bladder Foley catheter for a pigtail drainage catheter. Case Presentation: Between 2014 and 2019, we had three patients who had a large/persistent urine leak after a radical prostatectomy (one laparoscopic and two robot assisted). All three patients had a wide bladder neck requiring bladder neck reconstruction with ureteral orifices close to the anastomosis. The bladder Foley catheter was exchanged to a pigtail Cope loop catheter™ (14F) or an Origin™ self-retaining drainage catheter (16F) under flexible cystoscopic guidance over a guidewire. Placement of a Cope loop bladder catheter stopped anastomotic leakage expeditiously with no need for further intervention. At minimum 3 months follow-up none had bladder neck stricture with 0-1 pad urinary incontinence. Conclusion: Drainage of the bladder through the use of a loop pigtail nephrostomy catheter can be useful in rapidly resolving a large persistent urethrovesical anastomotic leak.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)64-66
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Endourology Case Reports
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020

Keywords

  • Cope loop nephrostomy tube
  • prostate cancer
  • prostatectomy
  • urethrovesical anastomotic leak

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