Retrospective comparative study of 59 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: transperitoneal anterior versus transperitoneal posterior approach.
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively compared perioperative parameters, as well as the oncological and functional results, for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) carried out via the posterior and anterior approaches in our hospital.


METHODS
We recorded pre-, peri-, and postoperative parameters and complications, and evaluated the oncological and functional results to compare the posterior approach (group 1, n = 25) with the anterior approach (group 2, n = 34).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences regarding the preoperative characteristics of the two groups. The incidence of major complications, positive surgical margins, and continence at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed no significant differences between the two groups. Although mean blood loss (including urine) was not significantly different, the mean prostatectomy time was significantly shorter in group 2 (174.21 +/- 57.97 min) than in group 1 (224.76 +/- 66.72 min) (P = 0.003 by Student's t-test). Also, the postoperative recovery period until discharge was 5.94 days in group 2, and was significantly shorter than in group 1 (7.48 days) (P = 0.02 by Student's t-test).


CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective comparative study shows that the anterior approach yields similar, if not better results than the posterior approach for LRP.
Li
Baoxing
B
Department of Urology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Suzuki
Kazuo
K
Tsuru
Nobuo
N
Ushiyama
Tomomi
T
Ozono
Seichro
S
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors