title: Robotic radical prostatectomy: present and future.
abstract: The last 10 years have witnessed unprecedented evolution regarding de surgical removal of the prostate gland. Laparoscopic  radical prostatectomy broke the open paradigm and started to generate great excitement and expectations. Shortly however,  robot-assisted, laparoscopic - Robotic Surgery - emerged to address a fundamental pitfall of prostate laparoscopic surgery:  execution reproducibility. Today, robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is the most used surgical approach to remove  the prostate gland. Consistent advantages of this technique are: a shorter convalescent state, marked decrease in blood  loss and in experienced hands, shorter average surgical times. Importantly it served to highlight the importance  of outcomes as ultimate judge of a procedure success. The data suggest equivalency in long-term functional and oncological  outcomes, while clear advantages in the short run: perioperative outcomes with patient rapid return to productive state.  That said, the major challenge for robotic surgeons still remains: establish a paradigm that breaks with the tradition  and prevents biased reporting due to technology and marketing enthusiasm, but rather takes a critical approach based in  prospective, controlled, randomize clinical trials. If the latter objective is reached, urologic robotic surgeons will  deliver counseling based on clinical evidence delivering major progress for our Urology field.
authors: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. research@drbianco.org
authors: Fernando J
authors: FJ
authors: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control