title: A comparison of outcomes for interfascial and intrafascial nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcome of intrafascial nerve-sparing endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (nsEERPE) with interfascial (standard) nsEERPE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-hundred patients underwent nsEERPE; 200 patients underwent bilateral intrafascial nsEERPE (group A) and 200 bilateral standard nsEERPE (group B). Tumor stages of T1 and T2a, prostate-specific antigen level <10 ng/mL, maximal Gleason score 3+4 (not 4+3) and preoperative potency were considered as candidates for nsEERPE. Patients were randomized to the aforementioned groups. Perioperative data, and functional and oncological outcome were reviewed. Patients not requiring any pads or requiring 1 pad for safety were defined as continent. Patients responding positively to sexual encounter profile diary question numbers 2, 3, and 5 were considered as potent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perioperative data were similar between groups. At 3 months, 74% of group A and and 63% of group B were continent. At 6 months, the respective figures were 87.9% and 76.2%, respectively (A, B). At 12 months, 93.2% of group A and 90.7% of group B were continent. Potency rates of group A were 93.5% (<55 years), 83.3% (55-65 years), and 60% (>65 years) at 12 months. The respective figures for Group B were 77.1%, 50%, and 40%. Positive surgical margins were detected in 9% and 9.5% of groups A and B, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrafascial nsEERPE provides significantly better potency in patients <55 years of age at 12 months and in patients 55-65 years of age at 6 and 12 months, with probably limited effect on the oncological outcome. Significantly improved continence was observed at 3 and 6 months in favor of intrafascial nsEEPRE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Stolzenburg
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kallidonis
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietel
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Häfner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabenalt
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sakellaropoulos
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganzer
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Paasch
authors.forename: Lars Christian
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liatsikos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005205:Fascia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011467:Prostate / Q000294:innervation; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome