[Status quo in radical prostate surgery]

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a treatment option with an excellent cure rate in patients with localized prostate cancer but is accompanied by increased side effects. Particularly laparoscopic techniques developed in the last decade and are widespread. The operation techniques (retropubic(RRP), laparoscopic (LRP) and robot assisted laparoscopic (RALP) radical prostatectomy) and the comparative literature available are presented. RALP shows less blood loss compared to RRP and a lower transfusion rate compared to RRP and LRP. RALP may obtain better 12-months continence and potency rates. However, due to short follow-up and methodic weaknesses no conclusions can be drawn at this time. At present RALP seems not to be usable in an economically reasonable way. RRP, LRP and RALP show similar oncologic outcomes and comparable side effects. RP is the gold standard in the treatment of localized prostate cancer.