Improving bladder neck division in radical retropubic prostatectomy by prior dissection of the seminal vesicles and vasa deferentia.

Abstract

To develop a convenient technique for dividing the bladder neck during radical retropubic prostatectomy. Before opening the bladder, we created a plane that separates the anterior surface of the seminal vesicles from the posterior wall of the bladder and ran an umbilical tape through the plane. The posterior bladder neck wall was later divided using this tape as a guide mark. The posterior bladder neck was divided in a single, easy, and swift maneuver (less than 2 min) in 350 patients with no subsequent complications.