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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Published on: May 19, 2022
Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in men older than 70 years of age with localized prostate cancer: comparison of
Vassilis Poulakis1, Ulrich Witzsch, Rachelle de Vries
1Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Northwest Hospital, Stiftung Hospital zum Heiligen Geist, Steinbacher Hohl 2-26, D-60488 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. vpoulakis@aol.com
Objectives:
To analyze the safety and efficacy of extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (eL-RPE) in elderly versus younger men with localized prostate cancer.
Methods:
Patients undergoing eL-RPE were retrospectively subdivided into group eL-RPE1 (72 men aged 71 yr and older) and group eL-RPE2 (132 men aged 59 yr and younger). Group eL-RPE1 was compared with a group of 70 contemporary, comparable patients aged 71 yr and older undergoing open retropubic radical prostatectomy (group OPEN-RPE).
Results:
Compared with group eL-RPE2, patients of group eL-RPE1 had a higher pathologic stage (45% vs. 32% stage pT3 or greater, p<0.001) and higher Gleason score (median 7 vs. 6, p<0.001). Prostate-specific antigen recurrence was significantly worse compared with age-matched controls for younger patients with high-stage or high-grade lesions (p<0.001). Importantly operative time, analgesic requirements, hospital stay, convalescence, and complication rates were comparable. Urinary continence rate was significantly better in group eL-RPE2 at 6 mo (67% vs. 91%, respectively, p<0.001). Group eL-RPE1 and group OPEN-RPE patients had statistically similar pathologic stage and Gleason score (each p>0.05), similar operative time (p=0.12), but less blood loss (p<0.001), shorter hospital stay (p<0.001), and more rapid convalescence (p<0.001) occurred in eL-RPE1.
Conclusions:
eL-RPE is feasible and efficacious even in elderly patients with unfavorable, large-volume disease. eL-RPE offers the advantages of decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and more rapid recovery over OPEN-RPE. However, the elderly patient must be informed preoperatively about the observed higher incontinence rate.