Recovery of erectile function after robotic prostatectomy: evidence-based outcomes

Several reported advantages of the robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach to the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer include superior results for erectile function as one of the critical outcomes of radical prostate surgery. This article provides a critical assessment of the evidence that exists for erectile function outcomes based on a systematic literature review. We found that the low methodological and reporting quality of existing studies did not appear well suited to guide clinical practice. A new framework of prospective investigation using validated patient self-assessment instruments would seem critical to the future advancement of this field.