title: Open versus robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: which is better?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Over the last decade there has been a changing trend in technique for radical prostatectomy from open surgery to minimally invasive robotic-assisted laparoscopic technology. This review evaluates the validity of this change by reviewing the current literature and comparing open radical retropubic prostatectomy to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy shows equivalent and possibly better results when compared with radical retropubic prostatectomy with respect to intraoperative and postoperative parameters including continence, potency and quality of life. Time is still needed to determine long-term oncologic results, but initial findings are promising.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review supports the current trend in shifting the standard of care for radical prostatectomy from an open to a robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology/Urologic Oncology, City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torrey
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome