title: Clinicopathological evaluation of radical retropubic prostatectomy-positive outcome even at institutes with relatively limited experience.
abstract: A total of 161 patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at our 11 institutions in the three-year period from January 2001 to December 2003. The numbers per institution ranged from 1-36, with 5 institutions conducting 20 or more (131 cases), and 6 performing less than 15 (30 cases). Here we examined the differences in operation parameters and patient outcome between these two groups. Time for surgery, associated loss of blood, lymphadenectomy, preservation of neurovascular bundles, time for removal of indwelling catheters, post-operation complications, and subsequent urinary incontinence, were assessed. There were no differences between the two groups of hospitals, except with regard to surgery time and incontinence, where the period to 'pad-free' was an average of more than 40 days longer in institutions undertaking only a small number of operations. From our experience with radical retropubic prostatectomy, series of hospitals, there is no reduction in safety with such intervention performed by institutions undertaking only a small number of operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Anjo Kosei Hospital.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akita
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tozawa
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohri
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology