Erectile Function and Long-term Oncologic Outcomes of Nerve-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy: Comparison With Open Radical Cystectomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We performed nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (nsRARC) and compared the operative outcomes of nsRARC and open radical cystectomy (ORC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 38 patients that underwent ORC or nsRARC for bladder cancer between July 2009 and April 2014 (23 ORC and 15 RARC) were retrospectively analyzed. Data were collected on patient demographics, pathologic stages, perioperative outcomes, and oncologic outcomes as well as on erectile function. Five-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Erection function recovery was defined as the ability to achieve penetration ≥50% of the time and to maintain an erection sufficient enough for penetration ≥50% of the time at 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the nsRARC and ORC groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, or clinical stage. Mean estimated blood loss was significantly less in the nsRARC group (205.3 mL vs. 394 mL, p=0.011), but mean operative time was significantly greater (520.3 minutes vs. 415.0 minutes, p=0.004). Five-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival were 86.7% and 86.7%, respectively, for nsRARC, and 77.7% and 86.7% for ORC. With respect to erectile function, the overall postoperative potency rate at 12 months was 40.0% in the RARC group and 9.5% in the ORC group, and this difference was significant (p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical experiences indicate nsRARC in selected patients is a feasible procedure in terms of oncologic outcome and that it preserves erectile function relatively effectively.