Novel method of knotless vesicourethral anastomosis during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: feasibility study and early outcomes in 30 patients using the interlocked barbed unidirectional V-L0C180 suture

Purpose: Our purpose was to describe the safety and feasibility of a running posterior reconstruction (PR) integrated with continuous vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) using a novel self-cinching unidirectional barbed suture in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods: Between March and October 2010, 30 consecutive patients with organ-confined prostate cancer underwent RARP by an experienced single surgeon (KCZ). Upon completion of radical prostatectomy, urinary reconstruction was carried out using 2 knotless, interlocked 6-inches 3-0 V-Loc-180 suture. The left tail of the suture was initially used for PR (starting at 5-o'clock and ran to re-approximate the retrotrigonal layer to the rectourethralis) followed by left-sided VUA (from 6- to 12-o'clock), while the right-sided suture completed the right-sided VUA. Assurance of watertight closure with an intraoperative 300 cc saline visual cystogram was performed in all cases prior to case completion. Perioperative outcomes and 30-day complications were recorded. Results: All anastamoses were performed without assistance and without knot tying. Median time for nurse setup and urinary reconstruction was 40 seconds (interquartile range [IQR] 25-60) and 14.6 min (IQR 10-18), respectively. The need to readjust suture tension or place Lapra-Ty clips (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) to establish watertight closure was observed in 2 cases (7%). No patient had clinical urinary leak and there was no urinary retention after catheter removal on mean postoperative day 5 (IQR 4-6). Conclusions: Our clinical experience with a novel technique using the interlocked V-Loc suture during RARP for both PR and anastomosis appears to be safe and efficient. Using the barbed suture prevents slippage and eliminates the need for bedside assistance to maintain suture tension or knot tying, thus assuring watertight tissue closure.