ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RLRP) in the treatment of prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the da Vinci robot surgical system, we performed RLRP for 34 patients with localized prostate cancer and analyzed the intraoperative and follow-up data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The procedures were performed successfully in all the patients, with the mean operation time of 198 min (range 135-340 min), average blood loss of 257 ml (range 50-700 ml), and 1 case of blood transfusion, but no postoperative complications. Three cases had positive surgical margins. Postoperative examination at 4 weeks showed PSA > 0.2 microg/L in 2 cases, suggestive of residual tumor, for which maximal androgen block therapy was administered. The other 32 patients were followed up for 3-10 (mean 7.5) months, during which the average level of serum tPSA remained < 0.2 microg/L. Urinary continence was found in 94% (32/34) and 97% (33/34) of the patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively, of whom 77% (26/34) and 88% (30/34) had no urinary leakage (0 pad per day).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RLRP, with its advantages of less perioperative blood loss, low rate of positive margin, and good urinary continence, is a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of prostate cancer.</p>