[Radical prostatovesiculectomy in the treatment of prostate cancer. Indications, operative technic and personal results].

Cancer of the prostate is the most common form of carcinoma in males of advanced age. If treated at an early stage, it can be healed by prostatovesiculectomy. Rectal prophylactic examination of all males aged 45 years or more should therefore be performed on a larger scale in order to detect these carcinomas as early as possible. Radical operation is indicated in males younger than 70 years old from stage T1 up to stages T3 and M0. Criteria vary in regard of the N-categories. The surgical technique practiced in the perineal and retropubic approach to prostatovesiculectomy is described, advantages and disadvantages are dealt with. No complete urinary incontinence could be observed in the 20 patients who underwent this operation at our hospital. Only 1 patient suffers from severe stress-induced incontinence, all others experiencing no difficulty in this respect. In 2 cases rectal lesions occurred during the operation. Postsurgical strictures occurring in the region of the urethra-bladder anastomosis in 2 other patients could be eliminated by internal urethrotomy. Impotence is the most common complication following this operation.