Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: first 100 patients with one year of follow-up

To report our initial experience of 100 patients with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Continued technological advances have expanded our armamentarium of minimally invasive devices and techniques to offer our patients. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has been adopted at many centers.

This was a nonrandomized prospective study evaluating our initial 100 patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The follow-up data were obtained prospectively using the validated Rand 36-item health survey, version 2, and the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Patients who required open conversion were excluded from the outcome analysis. Patients who received a sural nerve graft were excluded from the operative analysis.

The average age and body mass index of all patients were 58.4 years (range 42 to 70) and 28.5 kg/m2 (range 18.1 to 50.6), respectively, with a median follow-up of 12 months. The average prostate-specific antigen level was 6.07 ng/mL. Seven patients required conversion to an open technique, and four underwent sural nerve grafting. The positive surgical margin rate was 16% (15 of 92). Using the Rand 36-item health survey, version 2, and the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index health surveys, the average percentage of return to baseline urinary function was 52%, 70%, 79%, and 84% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The overall average percentage of return to baseline sexual function was 51%, 58%, 66%, and 80% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a safe and efficient method for achieving prostate cancer control even during the initial learning curve for this procedure.