title: Comparison of continence recovery between robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and open radical retropubic prostatectomy: a single surgeon experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the recovery of continence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 258 patients who underwent surgery by a single surgeon to treat localized prostate cancer. The patients were divided into two groups according to operative method. In group 1, 146 consecutive patients underwent RALP, and in group 2, 112 patients underwent RRP. To compare the interval until the return of urinary continence between the two groups, we used the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences between the two groups were found in mean estimated blood loss (EBL; p<0.001) and the rate of nerve sparing (p=0.004). When continence was defined as the use of 0 to 1 pad per day, 100% of group 1 and 98.2% of group 2 reported continence at 12 months (p=0.189). When continence was defined as no pad use, however, there was a significant difference between the two groups at 12 months: group 1, 95.7%, and group 2, 70.7% (p<0.001). The factors affecting time until no pad use in the univariate analysis with a Cox proportional hazards model were operation method, age, neurovascular bundle saving, membranous urethral length (MUL), EBL, and apical shape. In the multivariate analysis, only operation method, age, and MUL retained significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that RALP is an independent factor for the recovery of continence and that RALP has advantages for postoperative continence recovery and the quality of continence compared with RRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seong Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seok Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Prostate neoplasms; Prostatectomy; Robotics; Urinary incontinence
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