title: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in Songklanagarind Hospital: first series from Southern Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our technique of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and evaluated outcome during the first year experience in Songklanagarind Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2011 and October 2012, sixteen patients of localized prostate cancer underwent LRP in Songklanagarind Hospital and were evaluated. The authors used five ports and conducted with an extraperitoneal approach. Patient characteristics, operative outcome, and pathological outcomes were analyzed
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of patients was 66.8 years and average prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was 14.9 ng/ml. The average operative time was 437 minutes and average blood loss was 1,696 ml. One unit of transfusion was required in most patients. Hospital stay on average was 11 days and average catheter time was 27 days. Maximal weight of prostate was 93 grams. Pathological report demonstrated pT2, pT3 in eleven (69%) and five (31%) patients, respectively. Gleason score of seven was presented in the most of the cases. None of the patients had lymph node metastasis. At average follow-up time of 8.4 months, serum PSA was less than 0.02 ng/ml in 75% and complete continence in nine patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is safe and feasible in initial experience surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. watid.k@psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Watid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karnjanawanichkul
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Monthira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanthanuch
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Choosak
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pripatnanont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D061646:Operative Time; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013785:Thailand