Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Published on: May 19, 2022
Impact of the estimated blood loss during radical prostatectomy on functional outcomes
Felix Preisser1, Raisa S Pompe2, Georg Salomon3
1Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, Division of Urology, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of the estimated blood loss (BL) during radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (CaP) on functional outcomes. We hypothesized that the estimated BL during RP for clinically localized CaP does not affect the functional outcomes.
Materials And Methods:
Patients who underwent open RP (ORP) or robotic-assisted laparoscopic RP (RALP) were identified. BL was stratified into low, medium and high: ≤500vs. >500 to 1000vs. >1,000ml for ORP and ≤150vs. >150 to 400vs. >400ml for RALP. Multivariable logistic regression models (MLRM) tested the effect of BL on functional outcomes.
Results:
About 6,279 consecutive patients with ORP (2008-2015) and 2,720 patients with RALP (2009-2015) were identified. Low, medium, and high BL was recorded in 31.4vs. 45.7vs. 22.9% for ORP and in 39.8vs. 45.2vs.15.0% for RALP. MLRM predicting potency revealed that high BL was an independent predictor for erectile dysfunction: Odds ratios (OR) were 0.50 (P = 0.03) and 0.52 (P = 0.04) for ORP and RALP, respectively. MRLM predicting continence in ORP revealed that high BL was an independent predictor for 7-days and mid-term: ORs were 0.80 (P = 0.04) and 0.66 (P = 0.002). Moreover, high BL was an independent predictor for 7-days continence in RALP: OR were 0.68 (P = 0.009).
Conclusion:
CaP patients who sustain higher BL during RP showed worse functional outcomes. High BL during ORP or RALP represented an independent predictor of erectile dysfunction and incontinence after surgery. However, the effect of high BL on the continence was temporarily and not present at 1 year after surgery in ORP and after 3 months in RALP.
Related Concept Videos
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Characteristics and Functions of Blood
The primary function of blood is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between tissues and the lungs. Oxygenated blood is bright red, while oxygen-depleted blood is darker. It also carries...
Line Loss
Line loss impacts power delivery efficiency in a balanced three-phase circuit. The symmetry in such a circuit simplifies the...
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals
Radical Reactivity: Electrophilic Radicals
Reducing Line Loss
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...

