title: A comparison of the peri-operative data after open radical retropubic prostatectomy or robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the peri-operative biochemical data, the postoperative need for help with hygiene and mobility, and the duration of bladder catheterization, hospitalization and ICU stay of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) versus robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) performed by an experienced open, yet inexperienced laparoscopic, surgical team, in a peripheral low-volume urological centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 4-year period (2004-2008), 22 men underwent radical prostatectomy without lymphadenectomy at the study institution. The mean age of the patients was 63.9 years and the mean PSA value at the time of diagnosis was 9.2 ng/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy group presented a significantly lower decrease in haemoglobin, haematocrit and total plasmatic protein and a significantly smaller need for help with hygiene and mobility and a shorter duration of bladder catheterization, hospitalization and ICU stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study have shown that robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is associated with lower peri-operative morbidity and a shorter hospital stay than radical retropubic prostatectomy, even when only considering the first performed robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies by a yet inexperienced robotic team in a peripheral low-volume urological centre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium. pieter.uvin@student.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uvin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Meyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Holderbeke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins