[Minimal invasiveness of radical laparoscopic prostatectomy:dreams or reality?]

To determine the systemic response to extraperitoneal laparoscopic (eLRP) and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS. In all, 430 patients who had eLRP (200) or open RRP (230) were recruited; patients in both groups had similar preoperative staging. In addition to peri-operative variables (operative duration, complications, blood loss, transfusion rate, hospitalization, catheterization), oncological data (Gleason score, pathological stage, positive margins) were also compared. The extent of the systemic response to surgery-induced tissue trauma was measured in all patients, by assessing the levels of acute-phase markers C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 before, during and after RP. RESULTS. The duration of surgery, transfusion rate, hospital stay and duration of catheterization were comparable with those of previous studies. There was an increase in IL-6, CRP and SAA but no change in IL-10, and no differences between eLRP and RRP over the entire period assessed. CONCLUSION. The invasiveness of eLRP could not be substantiated objectively on the basis of the variables measured in this study. The surgical trauma and the associated invasiveness of both methods were equivalent.