Radical retropubic versus laparoscopic prostatectomy: a prospective comparison of functional outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare prospectively the functional results (urinary continence and erectile function) after retropubic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.


METHODS
From 1998 to 2001, 300 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, 70 by the retropubic and 230 by the laparoscopic approach. All of them completed a confidential, self-administered questionnaire regarding urinary continence and erectile function before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The results were analyzed separately for day and nighttime urinary continence and by neurovascular bundle status and age for erectile function.


RESULTS
No differences were found between the two groups except for the duration of bladder catheterization (7.8 days for the retropubic and 5.8 for the laparoscopic approach, P = 0.0006). Before surgery, 296 patients (98.7%) were continent and 290 (96.6%) were potent. One year after surgery, diurnal urinary continence increased progressively to 66.7% and 71.6% (P >0.05), nocturnal continence to 66.7% and 87.1% (P = 0.008), and potency rates to 30% and 41% (P >0.05) for the retropubic and the laparoscopic approaches, respectively. After preservation of one and two neurovascular bundles, the potency rate increased to 27% and 46% and 44% and 53% for the retropubic and laparoscopic approaches, respectively (P >0.05). For patients younger than 60 years old with bilateral neurovascular bundle preservation, the potency rates were 72% and 81% (P >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The two approaches showed similar outcomes regarding continence and erectile function 1 year after surgery. However, the recovery of nocturnal continence seemed to occur earlier after the laparoscopic approach. It is necessary to conduct additional studies to determine the potential benefits of the laparoscopic approach regarding nocturnal continence.
Anastasiadis
Aristotelis G
AG
Department of Urology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
Salomon
Laurent
L
Katz
Ran
R
Hoznek
Andras
A
Chopin
Dominique
D
Abbou
Clement-Claude
CC
D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology