Perioperative and short-term outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy stratified by gland size.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of preoperative prostate volume (PV) on the perioperative, continence and early oncological outcomes among patients treated with Retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RS-RALP). This is a retrospective analysis of 294 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer treated with RS-RALP in a high-volume centre from November 2012 to February 2015. Patients were divided into three groups based on their transrectal ultrasonography estimated PV as follows: group 1, <40 mL (231 patients); group 2, 40-60 mL (47); group 3, >60 mL (16). Perioperative, oncological, and continence outcomes were compared between the three groups. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] PV for each group was; 26.1 (22-31) mL, 45.9 (41-50) mL, and 70 (68-85) mL. Blood loss was higher in group 3 compared to groups 2 and 1; at a median (IQR) of 475 (312-575) mL, 200 (150-400) mL, and 250 (150-400) mL, respectively (P = 0.001). The intraoperative transfusion rate was higher in group 3 patients (P = 0.004), while the complication rate did not differ (P = 0.05). The console time was slightly higher but was not statistically significant in group 3 compared to groups 2 and 1; at a mean (sd) of 100 (35) min, 92 (34.4) min, and 93 (24.8) min, respectively (P = 0.70). Biochemical recurrence and the continence rate did not differ between the three groups (P = 0.89 and P = 0.25, respectively). RS-RALP is oncologically and functionally equivalent for all prostate sizes but technically demanding for larger prostates. We therefore recommend that surgeons initiate their RS-RALP technique with smaller prostates.