Endoscope-assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical efficacy of endoscope-assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy (EAM-RRP) compared with conventional radical retropubic prostatectomy (cRRP).


METHODS
From September 2001 to December 2003, 30 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated by EAM-RRP. The surgical manipulation was performed through the wound with thoracoscopic assistance, using standard surgical instruments. In all cases, 800 mL of blood was collected from the patient for autotransfusion. For both EAM-RRP and cRRP, the internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes were dissected before the prostate removal. Clinical indicators such as operation time, blood loss, and duration of postoperative urine incontinence were analysed in the two groups.


RESULTS
The postoperative period before ambulation and the duration of postoperative urine incontinence were significantly shorter after EAM-RRP than after cRRP, while no significant difference was found in operation time, blood loss, and duration of urethral catheterization. None of the cases required allotransfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
EAM-RRP, which had a shorter postoperative period before ambulation and continence, is considered a safe and useful technique for radical prostatectomy.
Department of Urology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan. 101959@gk.amu.aichi-med-u.ac.jp
Yoshiaki
Y
Yamada
Kogenta
K
Nakamura
Shigeyuki
S
Aoki
Tomohiro
T
Taki
Hiroto
H
Kokubo
Hiroyuki
H
Matsubara
Motoi
M
Tobiume
Nobuaki
N
Honda
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*