[Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in elderly patients: surgical, oncological and functional outcomes].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the perioperative oncological and functional outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) in older men.


METHODS
The records of n = 2,000 men who underwent RALP from February 2006 to April 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 45 patients ≥ 75 years were indentified. Subsequently this subgroup was compared to the overall patient cohort with regard to perioperative results, pathological tumor stage, functional outcomes after 12 months and the prostate cancer-specific mortality and biochemical recurrence free survival.


RESULTS
The following results reflect the comparison of the cohort of patients who were ≥75 years of age versus the overall cohort of patients. A statistical difference of the parameters analyzed was observed only for minor complications 15.5 % versus 11.4 % (p<0.05), neurovascular bundle (NVB) preservation 51.1 % versus 65.7 % (p<0.05) and potency after 12 months 39.6 % versus 66.2 % (p<0.001). Major complications were noted in 2.2 % versus 1.3 % of cases. A Gleason score <7 was noted in 37.4 % versus 42.8 %, a Gleason score 7 in 51.1 % versus 47.7 % and a Gleason score >7 in 11.6 % versus 9.5 %. Tumor stages pT2 and pT3 were noted in 68.8 % versus 73.5 % and in 31.2 % versus 25.2 %, respectively. The positive surgical margin status was encountered in 11.1 % versus 8.9 % of cases, respectively. At 12 months 86.9 % versus 92.8 % of patients were continent and 39.6 % versus 66.2 % were potent, respectively. After a median follow-up of 17.2 months the prostate cancer-specific mortality in the subgroup of elderly patients was 0 % and the biochemical recurrence-free survival was 95.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The RALP approach in patients ≥75 years of age is a safe surgical procedure with a limited complication rate, excellent oncologic and continence outcomes as well as acceptable erectile function. Nevertheless, RALP should be limited to a selected cohort of patients with a good health status and an individual life expectancy of more than 10 years. For the assessment of the final oncological benefits of RALP in this patient population a longer follow-up is necessary.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland. dporres@ukaachen.de
D
D
Porres
D
D
Pfister
A P
AP
Labanaris
V
V
Zugor
J H
JH
Witt
A
A
Heidenreich
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012371:Robotics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000401:mortality*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*