[Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. First 50 cases in a middle sized hospital. Evaluation of the learning curve]. / Prostatectomia radical laparoscópica extraperitoneal. Primeros 50 casos en un centro comarcal. Análisis de la curva de aprendizaje.

OBJECTIVE: Report our experience in the first 50 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in our Hospital. We describe the surgical technique and the modifications that we have applied. Time consumptions and technical difficulties are reviewed. METHODS: From January 2005 to September 2006 we indicated 52 extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomies. Two of them were done with the advice of a master and won't be included in our series. We followed the Brussels technique with some modifications. RESULTS: We completed integrally by laparoscopy the 78% of the cases (39/50). The 11 converted cases were done within the 25 first ones. Mean operating time for the pure laparoscopic cases was 280 minutes. We divide surgery in six steps with the following mean times in minutes: Trocars placement (30), seminal vessels dissection (95), Santorini (25), specimen in endobag (55), anasthomosis (55) and final (15). After case 25, the results improve. The most challenging step was seminal vessels dissection. Transfusion rate has been 7%. The mean hospitalization time has been 4 days with a 30% of patients discharged 48 hours after surgery. Positive surgical margins were observed in 12%. Two of our patients presented major complications (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is feasible in an institution like ours if it has the aim of invest a big effort, especially regarding operating time. The most demanding steps are the dissection of the vesicoprostatic plane and the anasthomosis. There is a clear progression after case 25.

Prostatectomía radical laparoscópica extraperitoneal. Primeros 50 casos en un centro comarcal. Análisis de la curva de aprendizaje / Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. First 50 cases in a middle size hospital. Evaluation of the learning curve

Introducción y objetivos: Presentar nuestra experiencia en los cincuenta primeros casos de prostatectomía radical laparoscópica. Se describe la técnica quirúrgica y las modificaciones que hemos ido aplicando, se revisan - tanto globalmente como comparando la primera y la segunda mitad de la serie - los costes de tiempo, las dificultades técnicas y pasos limitantes así como las complicaciones. Métodos: Entre enero 2005 y septiembre 2006 hemos indicado 52 prostatectomías radicales laparoscópicas por vía extraperitoneal en nuestro centro. Dos de ellas se realizaron con ayuda de un maestro por lo que no entrarán en nuestro análisis. La técnica empleada es la de Bruselas con modificaciones. Resultados: Hemos completado por vía laparoscópica el 78% de los casos (39/50). Las 11 reconversiones se produjeron en los primeros 25 casos. El tiempo quirúrgico medio para los casos laparoscópicos puros ha sido 280 minutos. Hemos dividido la cirugía en seis pasos con los siguientes tiempos promedio expresados en minutos: Colocación de los puertos (30), disección de vesículas seminales (95), Santorini (25), colocación de pieza en bolsa (55), anastomosis (55) y finalización de la cirugía (15). Los tiempos se reducen y la técnica se afianza a partir del caso 25. El principal paso limitante ha sido la disección de las vesículas seminales. Se ha requerido transfusión de sangre en un 7% de los casos laparoscópicos. La mediana de estancias ha sido 4 días con un 30% de casos dados de alta a las 48 horas de la cirugía. Se han presentado márgenes positivos en el 12% de casos. Ha habido complicaciones mayores en un 4% de casos (2/50). Conclusiones: La prostatectomía radical laparoscópica extraperitoneal es factible en un centro de nuestras características dispuesto a invertir un considerable esfuerzo especialmente en lo que respecta al número de horas de quirófano. Los principales pasos limitantes son la disección del plano vésicoprostático y la anastomosis vésico-uretral. Hay una clara progresión a partir del caso 25

Objective: Report our experience in the first 50 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in our Hospital. We describe the surgical technique and the modifications that we have applied. Time consumptions and technical difficulties are reviewed. Methods: From January 2005 to September 2006 we indicated 52 extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomies.Two of them were done with the advice of a master and won’t be included in our series. We followed the Brussels technique with some modifications. Results: We completed integrally by laparoscopy the 78% of the cases (39/50). The 11 converted cases were done within the 25 first ones. Mean operating time for the pure laparoscopic cases was 280 minutes. We divide surgery in sixsteps with the following mean times in minutes: Trocars placement (30), seminal vessels dissection (95), Santorini (25), specimen in endobag (55), anasthomosis (55) and final (15). After case 25, the results improve. The most challenging stepwas seminal vessels dissection. Transfusion rate has been 7%. The mean hospitalization time has been 4 days with a30% of patients discharged 48 hours after surgery. Positive surgical margins were observed in 12%. Two of our patients presented major complications (4%). Conclusions: Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is feasible in an institution like ours if it has the aim of invest a big effort, especially regarding operating time. The most demanding steps are the dissection of the vesicoprostatic plane and the anasthomosis. There is a clear progression after case 25