Continence is an important functional outcome after robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP), and modifications of the surgical technique may improve outcomes.
To illustrate a novel RARP technique and to describe the observed continence outcomes.
A retrospective study of men treated with RARP between 2017 and 2021 was conducted.
During RARP, periprostatic structures are preserved, the intraprostatic urethra is partially spared, and the anterior anastomosis stitches involve the plexus structures but not the anterior urethra.
A descriptive analysis of the pathological, functional, and short-term oncological outcomes was performed.
Of 640 men, 448 (70%) with at least 1 yr of follow-up and a median age of 66 yr were included. The median operative time was 270 min and the prostatic volume 52 ml. The transurethral catheter was removed after a median of 3 d, and leakage of urine in the first 24 h after catheter removal was observed in 66/448 patients (15%). Positive surgical margins were reported in 104/448 (23%). Prostate-specific antigen persistence after prostatectomy was observed in 26/448 (6%). During a median follow-up of 2 yr (interquartile range 1-3 yr), the biochemical recurrence after prostatectomy was observed in 19/448 patients (4%). One year after prostatectomy, 406/448 patients (91%) were continent and required no pad at all, while 42/448 (9%) required at least one pad per day.
Not stitching the anterior urethra is a novel technical modification and may improve continence outcomes.
We describe a novel way to stitch the bladder neck to the urethra after removal of the prostate using a surgical robotic system. Our technique appeared safe, with promising urinary continence results.
European urology open science. 2023 May 05*** epublish ***
Luca Antonelli, Luca Afferi, Agostino Mattei, Christian Daniel Fankhauser
Department of Urology, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Lucerne, Switzerland.