title: Minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy: technique and results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A small incision (minilaparotomy) radical retropubic prostatectomy is described and evaluated. A newly designed self-retaining retractor was used as a robot and functioned as a second operative assistant.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 522 consecutive patients underwent minilaparotomy radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon (F. F. M.) between 1991 and 1997. The technique of minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy (a 7 to 8 cm. midline incision) is described in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A questionnaire was mailed to all 522 patients and there were 265 responses. Satisfactory continence was achieved in the short term in 85% of patients (0 to 1 pad). Of the patients 83% had a prostate specific antigen of less than 0.2 ng./ml. at average followup of 2.6 years. There was no operative mortality and the overall complication rates were similar to other patients treated by the same department staff with a larger incision. The typical patient was discharged home 3 days postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy compares favorably with standard radical retropubic prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Partin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gurganus
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hortopan
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires