title: Detailed Surgical Anatomy of Prostate: Relationship between Urethra and Dorsal Vein Complex with Apex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our surgical technique for dissecting the apex of prostate during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and detailed surgical anatomy of prostate including relationship between urethra and dorsal vein complex with apex.
  
  
  METHODS
  In retrospective view of prospective collected data, 73 patients underwent RALP between December 2012 and September 2014. Surgical anatomy of prostate was revealed in all procedures. Quality of life (QoL) scores were assessed before, immediately after catheter removal, and 1 month after surgery. We divided urinary continence into 3 groups, as very early continence; continence at time of urethral catheter removal, early continent; and continence 1 month after surgery. The rest of the patients were accepted as continence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 10.2 ± 5.4 months and mean age was 61.5 ± 6.6. Maximum protection of urethra could be provided in all. Mean catheter removal was 8.9 ± 1.7 days, and all patients were continent at the time of catheter removal. QoL scores before RALP could be protected after surgery (p = 0.2). Neither conversion to open/conventional laparoscopic surgery nor complications related with bladder neck were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our surgical technique can be a strong candidate for being a surgical technique for preserving urethra and very early continence could be provided after surgery.
authors: Department of Urology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Lutfi
authors: L
authors: Tunc
authors: Yigit
authors: Y
authors: Akin
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Gumustas
authors: Esat
authors: E
authors: Ak
authors: Tuncay
authors: T
authors: Peker
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Veneziano
authors: Cagri
authors: C
authors: Guneri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology