Objective: Prostate cancer incidence increases with age. Radical prostatectomy (RP) seems to be feasible for elderly well-selected patients. We report our experience with patients older than 75 years old who underwent laparoscopic RP.
Methods: From 2000 to 2007, 22 patients older than 75 years old at time of surgery were included in the study. The patient clinical characteristics, the peri- and postoperative data, and the pathological data were collected retrospectively. The overall, specific and PSA-free survival were analysed with Kaplan-Meier method. The functional results such as continence and erectile function were assessed by self-questionnaires.
Results: The mean patient age was 75 years (75-81), the median PSA level was 10.77 ng/ml (5-30). The mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 2.1 (2-3). Two (9%) perioperative complications occurred but no conversion was necessary. Five patients (23%) had a pT3 disease and the overall positive surgical margins rate was 14%. With a median follow-up of 42 months, no patient has died and five had a biochemical recurrence. At 12-month follow-up, 82% of patients were continent (no pad) and potency (erection sufficient for intercourse) rate was 36% with or without the use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic RP is feasible for localized prostate cancer in elderly well-selected patients with satisfactory oncological and functional outcomes although the incontinence rate is increased comparing to younger patients.
(c) 2009. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.