Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in indian men of age 75 years and above: a propensity score-matched analysis

Older men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) have been thought to have worse perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes than younger men. However, there is a dearth of matched studies on this subject in the currently available literature. Our study is a matched pair analysis of perioperative, oncological and functional outcomes of RARP in men < 75 years of age versus ≥ 75 years (62 in each group). There was no statistically significant difference in complications, length of stay, pathological stage, positive surgical margins (PSM) and nodal involvement. Older men were less likely to undergo nerve sparing in our study (8.0 vs 75.8% p = 0.01). Potency rates were too low to be compared. The 1-year continence rates, time to continence and the proportion of men with biochemical recurrence (BCR) were similar between the groups. Men ≥ 75 years developed BCR much earlier than < 75 years (30 versus 78 months p = 0.07). However, this was not statistically significant. Age ≥ 75 years was associated with a statistically insignificant 53.5% rise in the risk of BCR. It was also not associated with any increased risk of postoperative complications or PSM. RARP is a safe procedure in senior adults. The oncological and functional outcomes of RARP in senior adults are similar to younger men.