Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: 10 years experience

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The authors assess the morbidity, functional results and oncologic follow-up of a series of laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed in over a 10-year period. Material and Methods: The data on 780 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed between September 1997 and December 2007 were stored in a personal database. The following parameters are described and critically analyzed: operative time, blood transfusions, conversions, length of hospital stay, complications, functional results of sexual potency and urinary continence, surgical margins and oncologic follow-up. Results: Operative time averaged 125 minutes, with a mean bleeding volume of 335 mL and mean hospital stay of 4.3 days. The rate of conversion to open surgery was 1.36 percent and the overall complication rate was 14.24 percent. The pathology analysis showed pT2 tumors in 82.60 percent and pT3 tumors in 17.39 percent of cases. The overall positive margin rate was 19.58 percent, with a biochemical recurrence of 10.27 percent at a mean follow-up of 62.5 months. Urinary continence and sexual potency yielded rates of 88 percent and 61 percent, respectively, 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a technically well-defined procedure that provides good oncologic and functional results after proper training.