title: Radical prostatectomy: initial experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures at a large university hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare oncological and functional outcomes between robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) during the initial phase with RALP at a large university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient and tumour characteristics, surgeon, nerve sparing, surgical margins and blood loss were recorded prospectively in patients who underwent RRP or RALP between April 2008 and May 2012. Patients filled out the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) and International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) questionnaires before surgery and at follow-up and they were asked to report their use of pads/diapers. Potency was defined as an IIEF-5 score of at least 17 with or without phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Patients using up to one pad daily for security reasons only were considered continent. Positive surgical margins, blood loss and functional outcomes were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 453 patients were treated with RRP and 585 with RALP. On multivariate logistic regression analyses, the type of surgery did not affect surgical margins (p = 0.96) or potency at 12 months (p = 0.7). Patients who had undergone RRP had an increased chance of reporting subjective continence at 12 months (odds ratio 2.6, p = 0.014). There was no difference in the proportion of RRP and RALP patients who underwent surgical treatment for incontinence (p = 0.57). On multivariate linear regression analysis, RALP was an independent predictor of a low perioperative blood loss (RRP:RALP ratio = 2.89, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RALP is a safe procedure with regard to perioperative and oncological results. However, it is important to be aware that functional outcomes may be compromised in the initial phase when introducing RALP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Herlev Hospital , Herlev , Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fode
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sønksen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence
keywords: erectile dysfunction; incontinence; prostatectomy; prostatic neoplasm; robotic instrumentation