Polyserositis and severe sepsis after open suprapubic radical prostatectomy: A case report

Abstract

Infections are well-known complications of radical prostatectomy. In the United States and Europe, the rates of surgical site infections are generally less than 1% and of other infections up to 3%. We report a case of a 62-year-old man who developed severe sepsis with renal insufficiency, paralytic ileus and polyserositis after radical prostatectomy, as a consequence of probable quinolone-resistant bacterial infection. Computed tomography of the abdomen and chest showed polyserositis with bilateral pleural and peritoneal effusions. Treatment with meropenem and other supportive measures resulted in good clinical outcome. This case suggested that severe sepsis with exudative polyserositis was probably caused by mobilization of an infective agent (bacterium) during bladder neck dissection as part of open radical prostatectomy.