Purpose: While it remains controversial whether LRP or da Vinci RAP offers any advantages over radical retropubic prostatectomy, LRP and RAP are being used more frequently. We reviewed our experience with these minimally invasive techniques.
Materials and methods: We reviewed intraoperative and early postoperative complications of 358 LRPs performed from October 2000 to January 2003 with those of 322 RAPs performed from June 2003 to June 2004. The transperitoneal approach with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection was performed using each technique. Data acquisition was done independently of the 3 surgeons.
Results: The LRP and RAP groups had similar clinical characteristics in terms of patient race, body mass index, prostate specific antigen, risk group, and pathological tumor grade and stage. Median operative time and estimated blood loss for LRP and RAP were 4.1 and 3.1 hours, and 200 and 250 ml, respectively. No blood transfusions were given intraoperatively, although 8 patients with LRP (2.2%) and 5 with RAP (1.6%) were transfused postoperatively. Of the LRP and RAP patients 21 (5.9%) and 3 (0.3%), respectively, experienced intraoperative complications. Postoperatively 48 patients with LRP (13.4%) and 24 with RAP (6.8%) experienced urine leakage, while 19 with LRP (5.3%) and 9 with RAP (2.8%) had ileus. There were no deaths, myocardial infarctions, pulmonary emboli or cerebrovascular accidents.
Conclusions: In our series surgeon experience derived from LRP may contribute to the lower complication rate and operative time of RAP. Dissemination of surgical technique and management of complications may lead to improved perioperative LRP and RAP morbidity. However, the morbidity of these 2 approaches compares favorably with that of radical retropubic prostatectomy.