Single Port Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity-matched Comparison of Transvesical Versus Extraperitoneal...

Single Port (SP) robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been increasingly used, with Extraperitoneal (EP) and Transvesical (TV) approaches being the most common. This study sought to describe the multi-institutional clinical experience of EP and TV SP-RARP.

A retrospective review was conducted using the prospectively maintained, Institutional Review Board-approved database of the SP Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC) to identify all consecutive patients who underwent EP or TV SP-RARP between 2019 and 2025. A 1:1 propensity score-matched comparison analysis was performed based on the age, prostate volume, PSA levels, and ISUP Grade Groups on the preoperative prostate biopsy.

A total of 2230 patients were reviewed, which included 1699 (76.2%) EP and 531 (23.8%) TV SP-RARP. Following propensity score-matched analysis, 884 patients were included, with 442 being analyzed from each group. History of previous abdominal surgery was more prevalent in the TV cohort (EP 33% vs TV 49.5%, SMD = 0.342). All procedures were completed successfully, with similar operative times (median, 184 vs 192 min, p = 0.733), risk of intraoperative complications (0.6% vs 1%, p = 0.307), and positive surgical margin status (pT2, 13.3% vs 14.7%, p = 0.070). Postoperatively, the SP-TV approach was associated with higher rates of same-day discharges (60.6% vs 78.2%, p < 0.001), a shorter Foley catheter duration (median, 7 vs 5 d, p < 0.001), with no differences in the incidence of major complications (3.2% vs 1.6%, p = 0.185). With 42.3% of patients achieving immediate urine continence following TV SP-RARP, the regionalized technique conferred improved early continence recovery at both 6 wk (44% vs 52.9%, p < 0.001), 3 mo (69.7% vs 79.1%, p = 0.040), and 6 mo (77.9% vs 87.2%, p < 0.001). At 12 mo, satisfactory erectile function was reported in 85.7% and 88.4% of the SP EP and TV groups, respectively (p = 0.174). At a median follow-up duration of 10 mo, biochemical recurrence rates were similar between the two groups (3.1% vs 3.6%, p = 0.678). Limitations of this study included the retrospective study design of the relatively novel surgical techniques, with limited long-term follow-up data.

TV SP-RARP offers notable advancements in patient comfort, featuring higher rates of same-day discharges, reduced opioid use, shorter Foley catheter duration, and early recovery of urine continence, whilst maintaining comparable perioperative safety and oncological adequacy to EP SP-RARP.