title: Recovery of erectile function after robotic prostatectomy: evidence-based outcomes.
abstract: Several reported advantages of the robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach to the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer include superior results for erectile function as one of the critical outcomes of radical prostate surgery. This article provides a critical assessment of the evidence that exists for erectile function outcomes based on a systematic literature review. We found that the low methodological and reporting quality of existing studies did not appear well suited to guide clinical practice. A new framework of prospective investigation using validated patient self-assessment instruments would seem critical to the future advancement of this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 South West Archer Road, PO Box 100247, Rm N-203, Gainesville, FL 32610-0247, USA. Philipp.Dahm@urology.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dahm
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Taryn L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Stoffs
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Canfield
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010410:Penile Erection; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*