Intraperitoneal drainage of recurrent lymphoceles using an internalized Tenckhoff catheter

[Lymphoceles after radical retropubic prostatectomy. A treatment algorithm]

Lymphoceles represent a common complication following pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy. Relevant articles published in the last 25 years and our own results based on a prospective study were taken as the basis for a treatment algorithm for lymphoceles after radical prostatectomy.The type of intervention depends on the clinical situation of the patient. Symptomatic lymphoceles can be managed initially by percutaneous aspiration with or without instillation of sclerosing agents. However, lymphocele recurrence rates are high. Symptomatic, sterile lymphoceles appear to be ideally suited for drainage by laparoscopic techniques. This method is effective, usually immediately definitive, results in minimal patient morbidity, and allows for a more rapid recovery. Infected lymphoceles require percutaneous or open surgical drainage. Laparoscopic marsupialization of symptomatic lymphoceles after pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer appears to be safe and effective. Because of the minimal postoperative morbidity, rapid convalescence, and low recurrence rate, laparoscopic lymphadenectomy should be considered as a first-line treatment for symptomatic, uninfected sterile lymphoceles.

Management of recurrent lymphocele after renal transplantation using the Tenckhoff catheter

We use the double-cuff straight Tenckhoff catheter for internalized drainage of the lymphocele into the peritoneal cavity by a subcutaneous tunneling technique. This technique has been performed in a 53-year-old male patient with recurrent symptomatic lymphocele after renal transplantation. There was no evidence of lymphocele recurrence at 6-month follow-up. We believe it is a safe technique to treat the recurrent lymphocele after renal transplantation.

Radiologic imaging and percutaneous treatment of pelvic lymphocele

Pelvic lymphocele, also known as lymphocyst, is a cystic structure caused by lymphatic injury usually secondary to pelvic lymphadenectomy and renal transplantation. Lymphoceles can cause morbidity and rarely mortality by compression of adjacent structures and infectious complications. This review discusses etiology and treatment options for pelvic lymphoceles including surgical and percutaneous methods with emphasis on percutaneous techniques particularly in conjunction with sclerotherapy. Percutaneous catheter drainage with sclerotherapy procedure with various sclerosing agents is described in detail. Ethanol, povidone-iodine, tetracycline, doxycycline, bleomycin, talc and fibrin glue can be used as sclerosing agents. Combination of sclerosing agents to percutaneous catheter drainage significantly improves success rate in the treatment of pelvic lymphoceles. Infected lymphoceles are usually treated solely with percutaneous catheter drainage. Percutaneous treatment can be tailored according to volume of lymphoceles. We generally prefer single session sclerotherapy and 1 day catheter drainage in lymphoceles less than 150 mL, and larger ones are treated by multi-session sclerotherapy until daily drainage decreases below 10 mL. Percutaneous treatment preferably with sclerotherapy should be considered as the first-line treatment modality for pelvic lymphoceles due to its effectiveness, widespread applicability on an outpatient basis, ease of procedure and low complication rate.

The incidence and treatment of lymphoceles after radical retropubic prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and treatment of lymphoceles after retropubic radical prostatectomy (RP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Up to January 2004, 260 patients who had a retropubic RP in one institution by one surgeon were assessed retrospectively, using the patients' notes or the computerized results system to determine whether a lymphocele was suspected and then confirmed by imaging studies (computed tomography or ultrasonography).

RESULTS

Nine patients developed symptomatic lymphoceles; eight of these were detected by imaging. Four lymphoceles required intervention while the remainder regressed spontaneously. No complications were reported in the group that was treated.

CONCLUSION

The rate of symptomatic lymphocele formation was low after RP, with an overall incidence of 3.5%. Ultrasonography was effective in detecting lymphoceles and ultrasonographically guided percutaneous drainage an effective treatment.

Laparoscopic ultrasonography

The use of laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) allows visualization of tissues beyond the two-dimensional laparoscopic picture, enhancing the amount and quality of information available to the surgeon. Linear-array transducers with frequencies of 7.5 to 10 MHz are typically used for LUS, employing B-mode scanning and color Doppler capability on probes with articulating tips. In general surgery, LUS has become a common adjunct to the intraoperative staging of upper gastrointestinal malignancy to determine resectability, avoiding unnecessary laparotomy. In urology, LUS appears to be a promising adjunct for four current procedures: difficult pelvic lymphocele marsupialization, renal cyst decortication, nephrolithotomy and other renal stone surgery, and cryotherapy of renal masses. The role of LUS during varicocelectomy is limited, and enthusiasm for this procedure is waning. Laparoscopic ultrasonography is a critical adjunct to renal cryoablation, a developmental procedure that currently lacks long-term data but is promising as therapy for small, incidentally detected renal masses. It appears that as laparoscopic urologic procedures continue to expand, so will the application of this promising operative imaging modality.