Functional outcomes and oncological efficacy of Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing: an analysis of 154 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To report updated results, at 1 year of follow-up, of a modified nerve-sparing robotic radical prostatectomy that preserves the lateral prostatic fascia (Veil of Aphrodite).


METHODS
From January to December 2003, 154 consecutive men had a Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing by one surgeon. A prospective database recorded patient demographics, intraoperative, peri-operative, and pathological variables. Peri-operative complications were recorded using the Clavien classification. Patients had serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels measured every 3 months and self-administered the International Prostate Symptom Score and Sexual Health Inventory for Male questionnaires before and at 1 year after surgery.


RESULTS
The men had a mean age of 57.4 years, a mean body mass index of 27.2 kg/m(2), and a mean PSA level before surgery of 5.11 ng/mL. The mean operative duration was 122 min. At 1 year, 96% of the men reported having had intercourse and 71% had recovered normal erectile function. One man had a Clavien grade II complication, 4.6% of men with organ-confined disease had positive surgical margins, and no patient had a PSA recurrence at 12 months; 97% of the men were continent at 1 year, and the median time to continence was 14 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing surgery provides better recovery of sexual function at 1 year than in contemporary series from centres of excellence, without compromising cancer control and urinary function.
Kaul
Sanjeev
S
Vattikuti Urology Institute, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. skaul1@hfhs.org
Savera
Adnan
A
Badani
Ketan
K
Fumo
Michael
M
Bhandari
Akshay
A
Menon
Mani
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000294:innervation*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen