title: [Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Only at centers of expertise].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present and evaluate our experience and initial results in radical laparoscopic prostatectomy which we have been using for two and an half years in our General Hospital (covering a total population of 200.000 inhabitants).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2002 and August 2005, were selected 26 patients for radical laparoscopic prostatectomy (25 transperitoneal and 1 extraperitoneal). Mean age was 62.3 +/- 5.3 years (range 52-69). Mean PSA level was 9.16 +/- 4.20 ng/mL (range 5.26 to 24.3). Pre-operative classification was Tlc in 10 patients (38.4%), T2a in 8 (30.8%) and T2b in 8. Mean Gleason Score was 6 +/- 0.8 (range 4-7). Three patients had undergone preoperatively neo-adjuvant hormonal blockage (11.5%). Simultaneous bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed in two patients. In no case did we consider a nerve sparing approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was accomplished in 20 patients. Mean follow-up was 12.4 +/- 8.6 months (range 3 - 34). There was no perioperative mortality. Conversion to open surgery was required six times in the ten first cases but not thereafter. Mean operating time for the whole series was 303 +/- 95 minutes (range 150-540) but with a distinct difference between the first fourteen and the last six cases: 332 +/- 92.58 versus 236.6 +/- 66.5 (p<0.02). Mean blood loss was 90.25 +/- 46.5 ml. There were early postoperative complications in 4 patients (15.38%). Final pathological staging was: T2a in three patients (15%), T2b (50%) in 10, T3a (15%) in three and T3b (20%) in four. Positive margins were found in three cases (11.5%): T2b, T3a and T3b. Mean hospitalisation time was 4.7 +/- 3.1 days. Provided there was no urinary leakage, the urinary catheter was removed at 12.7 +/- 2.7 days. Full continence at three months was achieved in 17 of the patients (85%) who had undergone the full laparoscopic procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our previous experience in other major laparoscopic procedures has allowed us to perform radical laparoscopic prostatectomy with a fast learning curve even in a setting of a relatively low population. Initial long term results seem similar to those achieved with conventional surgery.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona. pascual@pulso.com
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Pascual Piédrola
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grasa Lanau
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cuesta Alcalá
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aldave Villanueva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponz González
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ipiens Aznar
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*