Transverse Versus Vertical Camera Port Incision for Patient Satisfaction After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer.
• Patient satisfaction is a crucial outcome measure in surgical procedures.
• Camera port incision type may influence postoperative pain and patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient satisfaction after RARP based on transverse versus vertical camera port incisions.
• To evaluate differences in postoperative wound pain and health-related quality of life between incision types.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 100 RARP patients.
• Patients were divided into transverse (n=57) and vertical (n=43) incision groups.
• Primary outcome: incisional pain at specimen extraction port on postoperative Day 7. Secondary outcome: wound satisfaction (DAS-59).

Main Results:

• Significantly fewer patients reported wound pain on postoperative Day 7 in the vertical group (2.3%) compared to the transverse group (19.2%) (p<0.001).
• No significant difference in overall wound satisfaction (DAS-59 scores) between the groups (p=0.44).
• Body mass index and incision type were independently associated with wound pain.

Conclusions:

• Vertical camera port incisions in RARP are associated with reduced postoperative wound pain.
• Wound satisfaction was comparable between vertical and transverse incision groups in the early postoperative period.
• Vertical camera port incisions may be recommended for RARP due to lower surgical invasiveness and improved pain outcomes.