A comparative study of sexual function preservation after robot-assisted and laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder reconstruction / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To Investigate the postoperative sexual function outcomes in patients with bladder cancer who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC)or laparoscopic radical cystectomy(LRC)followed by orthotopic neobladder reconstruction.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of 84 bladder cancer patients having undergone laparoscopic radical cystectomy(LRC)and robotic-assisted radical cystectomy(RARC)with≥21 IIEF-5 in our institution from Jan 2014 to Jan 2019. All of them were diagnosed as high grade urothelial carcinoma by biopsy or TURBT. Biopsy of the posterior urethra and bladder neck reveal negative result of tumor invasion. Their PSA level was less than 4.0 ng/ml with negative result of DRE. All patients undergone laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder reconstruction by one medical team. 45 patients underwent robotic assistant radical cystectomy(RARC group), and the rest of patients 39 were treated with laparoscopic radical cystectomy(LRC group). In RARC group, the mean age were 53 years old(ranging 50-67 years old)and clinical stage of the tumor was cT 1 in 10 patients, cT 2 in 21 patients and cT 3 in 14 patients. In the LRC group, the mean age were 56 years old(ranging52-65 years old) and the clinical staging of the tumors was 6 patients in cT 1, 23 patients in the cT 2 and 12 patients in the cT 3. The RARC group paid special attention to the protective function of the following surgical details ①To detect the abdominal organs, reveal the pelvic cavity, observe the blood vessels and ureter, open the perinatal membrane next to the cross of the ureter, along the outer venous veins and closed-hole nerves around the standard or expand the pelvic lymph node cleaning. In this study, the patients who did not have obvious suspected lymph node metastasis were removed within the standard range of the pelvic lymph nodes on both sidesin order to protect the nerves at the pelvic floor as much as possible. ② With the robot 3rd arm lifting the bladder, the peritoneum was opened at the site of seminal vesicle and ampulla of vas deferent duct, which connected to the two sides with the open peritoneum. Along the vasectomy and the sac free, the denonvillier fasica was opened and exposing the back of the prostate. With the third arm pulling down, the umbilical ligament was observe. The peritoneal was opened to the retropubic space so that the prostate region was revealed. Continue to dissect the bladder front space until the pelvic fascia and the osteopathic prostate ligament are exposed. The Hem-o-1oks were used to ligate the bilateral bladder lateral ligaments. The bladder and prostate were removed in the fascia level. The NVB bundle on both sides was kept to the apex of prostate. The urethra was exposed and remove the catheter.With Hem-o-lok clamping, the urethra was dissected in the level of prostatic apex. The distal end of urethral tissue was sent to the rapid freeze pathology examination. In the procedure of prostate removing, parallel prostate fascia excision was considered and pubo-prostatic ligament could be preserved.③ Preserving the bilateral neurovascular bundle (NVB) and try to avoid the damage of NVB. Retaining the bladder lateral ligament neurovascular bundle. Retaining the1.2-1.5 cm urethra and surrounding continent control structure. The cold knife is advocated. Blood vessel clamp can be used to stop bleeding. We compared with operative time, bleeding amount, postoperative hospitalization, IIEF-5 scores and satisfaction of sexual between those groups. Results:All operations were successfully performed without conversion and serious surgical complications. The operative time in the RARC group and LRC group were [(313.5±31.9)min and (276.5±32.3)min, P>0.05] .The intraoperative amount of blood loss and postoperative hospitalization were [(190.1±44.1) ml and (212.3±39.2) ml, P>0.05], [(14.3±2.1) d and (15.2±3.0) d, P>0.05]. There was no significantly difference between the two groups. The median follow-up period of 84 patients was 18 months. The IIEF-5 score of the RARC group was higher than LRC group at 6 months(18.5±1.6 vs.10.6±1.3)and 12 months (18.6±2.4 vs.11.2±1.4) ( P<0.05). In addition, the satisfaction of sexual in the RARC group was relative better than LRC group (both P<0.05) at 6 months[44.4%(20/45)vs.25.6%(10/39)], and 12 months[51.1%(23/45) vs.28.2%(11/39)] post-operation. Conclusion:Robot-assisted radical cystectomy(RARC) and orthotopic neobladder reconstruction revealed relative better recovering in post-operative sexual function and improvements in patient quality of life.