Inguinal hernia after radical prostatectomy: incidence and risks factors

The number of patients (pts.) undergoing radical prostatectomy has increased due to early detection of prostate cancer. The two most frequently occurring and well descrbed complications of radical prostatectomy are incontinence and impotence. Inguinal hernia (IH) has emerged as an additional complication with an estimated incidence of 15-20% after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), 7,4% after laparoscopic prostatectomy and 5,8% after robotic prostatectomy. The internal inguinal ring is composed of transversalis fascia and suspended by the transversus abdomenmuscle, so that injury to these structures or their nerve supply during surgery could be associated with the development of an indirect IH. The objective of the study is to assess the incidence and the risk factors for an IH development in a series of pts. undergone RRP