Original Digital Technique to Isolate Santorini'S Plexus and Membranous Urethra during Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy and Radical Cystectomy

The authors give the results obtained with their digital technique for isolating Santorini's plexus during radical retropubic cystectomy or radical prostatectomy. Objectives: to reduce bleeding during surgery; to respect anatomic structures; greater safety during resection of the urethra; to respect the neurovascular erectile bundles; to assess post-operative erection. This technique was used in 46 operations (32 cystectomies and 14 radical prostatectomies) between January 1997 and February 1998. Blood loss from the plexus was 150 ml max. Operating time was reduced by about 15 minutes. Although the number of cases is still small, this digital isolation technique can be considered safe, almost bloodless and should preserve erection in a higher percentage of patients compared to the “classic” nerve-sparing technique.