Laparoscopic versus robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Comparison of outcomes of a single surgeon

Abstract

Abstract Objective To compare the functional and oncological results of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and RALP performed by a single surgeon. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent LRP and RALP performed by a single surgeon between June 2017 and April 2020 and were followed-up for 12 months. The Da Vinci ® robotic system was used for all surgeries. The potency, continence, surgical margins, postoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, and surgical complications were compared. Results The cohort included 156 patients: 103 and 53 patients underwent RALP and LRP, respectively. We found that RALP were superior to LRP with respect to potency in all periods analyzed. At 3 months, 60% of the patients in the RALP group were potent, and this proportion rose to 87.1% at the end of one year, versus 36.6% and 66.7% at the corresponding periods in the LRP group. No statistical differences were observed in the surgical margins, post-operative PSA, or continence. Conclusion The comparison of the RALP and LRP performed by the same surgeon revealed the superiority of the former over the latter, with respect to the postoperative sexual potency. There was no difference in the continence rates, surgical margin, or persistence of disease.