title: Case for resurgence of radical perineal prostatecomy in Indian subcontinent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radical perineal prostatectomy was the first surgery described for prostatic carcinoma (Young, 1904) but it lost its eminent status after Walsh's description in 1982 of anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy followed by the enthusiasm in laparoscopy and now robotics. It made resurgence after it was realized in early 1990s that the pelvic lymph node dissection is needed only in selected cases. Last decade witnessed over 80 publications addressing the results and advances in the perineal approach. Strangely, centres from the subcontinent have chosen to ignore this resurgence. We describe our early experience with the technique in 35 patients and present the case for its more widespread usage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty five patients of clinically localized carcinoma prostate were operated by perineal route in our institution from December 2006 onwards. All patients had serum prostate specific antigen levels less than 10 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operating time was 2 to 3.5 hours (mean 2.5 hours). Rectal injury occurred in three patients but was closed primarily in all and none required a colostomy. Mean duration of hospital stay was four days. The disease was organ confined in 25(71%). Positive margins were seen in 5(14%) patients. Biochemical recurrence occurred in 17% patients at one year. Seventy six percent patients had achieved continence at one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the world is taking note of radical perineal prostatectomy again, with a very small learning curve, minimal invasion and good oncological control urologists from Indian subcontinent should also embrace this procedure in view of the relative limited resources available.
authors: Department of Urology, PGIMER & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: Rajeev
authors: R
authors: Sood
authors: Nikhil
authors: N
authors: Khattar
authors: Rishi
authors: R
authors: Nayyar
authors: Sachin
authors: S
authors: Kathuria
authors: Vineet
authors: V
authors: Narang
authors: Devashish
authors: D
authors: Kaushal
keywords: Carcinoma prostate; perineal; radical prostatectomy