Summary
The surgical complications encountered in 478 patients who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection for clinical stage A and B nonseminomatous testicular cancer during the period ranging from 1982 to 1992 were reviewed. There were 54 complications in 51 patients (10.6%), and there was no surgery-related mortality. There were 16 minor complications and 38 major complications. The most frequent complication encountered was superficial wound infection, and many of the major complications were related to small-bowel obstruction and atelectasis. The incidence of complications was significantly lower in patients operated on during the last 6 years of the study (1987–1992). The complication rate was lower in patients who underwent modified unilateral procedures than in those who had bilateral dissections. The ejaculation rate of patients undergoing nervesparing procedures was 98%. This study reinforces the conclusion that primary retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection is an operation yielding minimal morbidity and no long-standing effect.
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Baniel, J., Foster, R.S., Rowland, R.G. et al. Complications of primary retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection for low-stage testicular cancer. World J Urol 12, 139–142 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192272
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192272