An update on oxidized regenerated cellulose (fibrillar™) in reducing postoperative corporal bleeding following inflatable penile prosthesis surgery

• Published in: Translational andrology and urology 2020-02, Vol.9 (1), p.43-49
• Main Authors: Wolfe, Avery R, Davenport, Michael T, Rozanski, Alexander T, Shakir, Nabeel A, Ward, Ellen E, West, Mary L, Morey, Allen F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2223-4691; 2223-4683; 2223-4691
• DOI: 10.21037/tau.2019.08.05

Scrotal hematoma formation is a dreaded complication of penile prosthesis surgery that increases patient pain and healthcare costs, as well the risk for eventual device infection and failure. The efficacy of hemostatic agents in reducing the incidence of scrotal hematoma development has not been extensively studied in urologic prosthetic surgery. In this paper we further evaluate our experience with oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC; Surgicel Fibrillar™) as an adjunct to standard hemostatic practices in inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation. From April 2016 onward, intracorporal ORC pledgets were placed during corporotomy closure in all patients undergoing IPP implantation or revision by a single surgeon using an identical surgical technique. Perioperative parameters and outcomes-primarily postoperative cumulative drain output, secondarily patient phone calls in the postoperative period-were compared among successive cases with ORC (April 2016 to February 2019) and without ORC (April 2013 to March 2016). A total of 274 men underwent IPP implantation during the study period; 175 (64%) had ORC included in their corporotomy closures. Median drain output was significantly reduced in the ORC patients relative to the non-ORC group (50 65 mL; P=0.0001). A significant reduction in patient-initiated phone calls regarding scrotal pain, swelling, or discomfort in the first 4 weeks following surgery was also observed in the ORC group (average 0.69 1.1 calls per patient; P=0.03). A total of 9 patients underwent IPP explantation during the study period, all due to device infection; 5 of these were in the ORC group, while 4 were in the non-ORC group (P=0.73). ORC use did not constitute any additional infection risk. Bilateral incorporation of ORC pledgets during corporotomy closure in IPP surgery significantly decreases postoperative scrotal drain output, a well-documented risk factor for scrotal hematoma formation.