title: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in Italy: perioperative data on the first 150 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2004 we performed the first robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at Aosta, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data about our first 150 RALPs are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patient age was 65.2 (range 51-75) years; mean preoperative PSA level 7.9 (range 1.8-25.0) ng/ml. Nerve sparing was performed in 109 cases (72.7%) with lymph nodes dissection in 27 (18.0%). Operative time: patients 1-50, mean 213.3 (range 185-290) min; patients 51-100, 207.3 (range 185-335) min; patients 101-150, 171.7 (range 123-270) min. Two procedures were converted to open. Mean blood loss was 235 (range 20-1000) ml with two blood transfusions. One patient was reoperated for anastomotic leakage. Four patients were treated by colostomy and rectal suture for rectal injury (n = 3) or recto-urethral fistula (n = 1). The overall complication incidence was 13.3% (20 events), while mortality was nil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of complications is slightly higher than in major pilot centres but it is comparable, hence RALP also appears feasible in our italian peripheral centre.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Regional Hospital, Aosta, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pierini
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lillaz
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merlo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001810:Blood Volume; D003125:Colostomy; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007432:Intraoperative Period / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007558:Italy; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome