Robotic urethrovesical anastomosis: combining running and interrupted sutures.

FOR SURGEONS EARLY IN THE LEARNING CURVE of laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy, the urethrovesical anastomosis may pose a difficult challenge. The use of sounds or perineal pressure to aid needle placement may be technically challenging and time consuming. Furthermore, the use of the Van Velthoven suture with a monofilament suture may lead to uncertainty regarding posterior approximation with possible excess suture tension resulting in tearing of urethral tissue and suture breakage. We present a technique that combines the stability of posterior interrupted suture fixation with the efficiency of a running anastomosis.