Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: the initial UK series

To test the reproducibility of other series of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for safety, efficacy and early oncological and functional results.

One hundred consenting patients with clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate and a Gleason sum of < or = 8 opting for surgery underwent LRP undertaken by one surgeon. Their mean (range) age was 62.2 (52-72) years, weight 78.8 (65-100) kg, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level 8.0 (2-32) ng/mL, and Gleason sum 6.0 (4-8). A five-port antegrade transperitoneal technique was used in all cases.

The mean (range) operative duration was 245 (145-600) min, blood loss 313 (50-1300) mL, parenteral morphine sulphate administration 20.2 (0-160) mg and hospital stay after LRP 4.2 (3-13) nights. Bilateral neurovascular bundle preservation was attempted in 58% of patients. The transfusion rate was 3%. The conversion and re-intervention rates were 1% and 2%, respectively. There were eight complications, six of which were in the initial 26 cases, i.e. bladder neck stenosis (two), and rectal injury, laparotomy for bleeding, premature drain removal leading to urinary peritonitis, ulnar nerve neuropraxia, port-site hernia and paralytic ileus in one each. The positive surgical margin rate was 16%. All patients had a PSA level of < or = 0.1 ng/mL at 3 months. By 1 year 90% of patients were pad-free and 62% operated on using a bilateral nerve-sparing technique had erections. There were no biochemical failures. The mean (range) follow-up was 9.8 (1-24) months.

The present results are similar to those reported by other centres with greater experience and confirm that LRP is an effective, safe and precise technique. Once intial experience has been gained it offers advantages over open surgery in the form of a dry and magnified operative site, and a lower likelihood of blood transfusion, in addition to the generic advantages of laparoscopy.