521 Functional Results of Antegrade Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy for the Treatment of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer (original) (raw)

Potency, Continence and Complication Rates In 1,870 Consecutive Radical Retropubic Prostatectomies

The Journal of …, 1999

Purpose: We update results in a series of consecutive patients treated with anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy regarding recovery of erections, urinary continence and postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: One surgeon performed anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy on 1,870 men, using the nerve sparing modification when feasible. We evaluated recovery of erections and urinary continence in men followed for a minimum of 18 months. Patients who were not reliably potent before surgery, did not undergo a nerve sparing procedure, or received hormonal therapy or postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy were excluded from the analysis of potency rates but not of continence rates. Other postoperative complications were evaluated for the entire patient population. Results: Recovery of erections occurred in 68% of preoperatively potent men treated with bilateral (543 of 798) and 47% treated with unilateral (28 of 60) nerve sparing surgery. Recovery of erections was more likely with bilateral than with unilateral nerve sparing surgery in patients less than 70 years old (71 versus 48%, p <0.001) compared with patients with age 70 years old or older (48 versus 40%, p = 0.6). Recovery of urinary continence occurred in 92% (1,223 of 1,325 men) and was associated with younger age (p <0.0001) but not with tumor stage (p = 0.2) or nerve sparing surgery (p = 0.3). Postoperative complications occurred in 10% of patients overall and were associated with older age (p <0.002) but the incidence declined significantly with increasing experience of the surgeon (p <0.0001). There was no operative mortality. Conclusions: Anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy with the nerve sparing modification can be performed with favorable results in preserving potency and urinary continence. Better results are achieved in young men with organ confined cancer. Other complications can be reduced with increasing surgeon experience.

Medical and surgical advances in the radical prostatectomy patient

International Journal of Impotence Research, 1999

Maintaining the quality of life after surgery in the radical prostatectomy patient is of paramount importance. One of the major dilemmas in surgical management of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) is preservation of the neurovascular bundle and, hence, erectile function and the continence mechanism. This manuscript addresses anatomical considerations for the surgeon and discusses the following issues with regard to medical and surgical therapies: (1) incidence of erectile dysfunction solely due to complications during RRP; (2) nerve damage during RRP; (3) vascular damage during RRP; (4) current medical and surgical therapies for restoring or maintaining potency; and (5) new advances on the horizon for management of the prostatectomy patient.

Factors affecting erectile function after radical retropubic prostatectomy: results from 1620 consecutive patients

BJU International, 2008

To report the return of erectile function in 1620 consecutive men after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), chosen by half of men diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer, and the goal of which is to completely excise the tumour while preserving continence and erectile function. From January 1992 to October 2006, one surgeon performed RRP with a nerve-sparing technique where feasible. Men with erectile dysfunction before surgery, salvage RRPs, those not having a nerve-sparing procedure, neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy within 6 months of RRP and a follow-up of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;6 months were excluded from the analyses. Erectile function was evaluated by the surgeon when possible or by an annual questionnaire. Potency was defined as erectile function sufficient for intercourse with or without a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor. Of 619 men who had a bilateral and of 178 who had a unilateral nerve-sparing RRP, 72% and 53%, respectively, were potent. When stratifying by age groups (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;or=49, 50-59, 60-69 and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;or=70 years) potency rates were 86%, 76%, 58% and 37%, respectively. Potency was more common after bilateral than unilateral nerve-sparing RRP in all age groups (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). Age, bilateral nerve-sparing (odds ratio 2.9) and surgeon experience were associated with potency in a multivariate analysis. Careful patient selection and meticulous surgical technique are essential to achieve the right balance between cancer control and morbidity. The patient&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s age, nerve-sparing RRP and the surgeon&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s experience were the significant predictors of return of potency after RRP.

Nerve-Sparing Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

European Urology, 2007

e u r o p e a n u r o l o g y 5 1 ( 2 0 0 7 ) 9 0 -9 7 a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e u r o p e a n u r o l o g y . c o m Abstract Introduction: In recent years, the surgical technique for open radical prostatectomy has evolved and increasing attention is paid to preserving anatomic structures and the impact on outcome and quality of life. Methods: Technical aspects of nerve-sparing open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) are described. Patient selection criteria and functional results are discussed, focusing on postoperative urinary continence. Results: The video demonstrates the nerve-sparing open RRP and important steps are elucidated with schematic drawings. The value of nerve sparing, not only for preserving erectile function, but also for preserving urinary continence is discussed and results from our institution are presented. In our series, urinary incontinence was present in 1 of 71 patients (1%) with attempted bilateral nerve-sparing, 11 of 322 (3%) with attempted unilateral nerve-sparing, or 19 of 139 (14%) without attempted nerve-sparing surgery. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the only statistically significant factor influencing urinary continence after open RRP was attempted nerve sparing (odds ratio, 4.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.18-10.44; p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Nerve-sparing surgery has a significant impact on erectile function and urinary continence and should be performed in all patients provided radical tumour resection is not compromised. For successful nerve preservation we advocate a lateral approach to the prostate to improve visualisation and simplify separation of the neurovascular bundles from the dorsolateral prostatic capsule. Bunching, ligating, and incising Santorini's plexus over the prostate and not over the sphincter ensures a bloodless surgical field. Mucosa-to-mucosa adaptation of the reconstructed bladder neck and the urethra is another important factor to be observed.

Bilateral nerve sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is associated with faster continence recovery but not with erectile function recovery compared with retropubic open prostatectomy: The need for accurate selection of patients

Oncology Reports, 2013

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) shows measurable advantages, compared to conventional open surgery, even if some aspects are, still, under debate. The aim of this study was to compare the potency recovery rate of patients with clinically localised prostate cancer treated by bilateral nerve-sparing (BNS) RARP or retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), and secondarily, the urinary continence recovery evaluation and the oncological efficacy. All patients treated with BNS-RARP or BNS-RRP for clinically localised prostate cancer, performed by a single dedicated surgeon, between January 2004 and December 2008, were enrolled in this non-randomised prospective comparative study. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and erection hardness score (EHS), in the form of a questionnaire, were self-administered to each patient pre-operatively and after 12 months. The presence of surgical margins was considered as oncological outcome measure. Eighty-two patients underwent BNS-RARP while 48 underwent BNS-RRP. For BNS-RARP and BNS-RRP the median operative time was 221 and 103 min, respectively (P<0.001; df=128; t=721.43),and intra-operative blood loss was 280 and 565 ml, respectively (P<0.001; df=128; t=1742.44). At a mean follow-up period of 12.4±2.3 months, 12 patients (25%) in the BNS-RRP group and 22 (26.8%) in the BNS-RARP group were considered potent with or without drugs (P=0.81). Moreover, we did not find any statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of IEFF and EHS scores after treatment (17.21 vs. 16.98; P=0.16 and 2.1 vs. 2.0; P=0.54). On the other hand, statistically significant differences between the 2 groups were found in terms of faster urinary continence recovery and the presence of positive surgical margins (P<0.001, P=0.009). Shorter catheterization duration (7 vs. 3 days) and post-operative hospital stays (8 vs. 4 days; P<0.001) were found in the BNS-RARP group compared to the BNS-RRP group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that BNS-RARP does not improve erectile function recovery compared to open radical prostatectomy; however, it significantly improves urinary continence and decreases the presence of positive surgical margins.

Radical Prostatectomy and Cystoprostatectomy with Preservation of Potency. Results Using a New Nerve-sparing Technique

Bju International, 1984

Summary— A surgical technique that preserves the branches of the pelvic plexus that innervate the corpora cavernosa was employed during radical retropubic prostatectomy in 64 men and radical cystoprostatectomy in 11 men. In patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy, sexual function returned gradually in the vast majority of patients post-operatively and by 1 year 86% were potent. The age of the patient did not influence post-operative potency but potency did correlate with clinical and pathological stage. Preliminary data suggest that deliberate excision of the neurovascular bundle unilaterally did not adversely affect potency. Of the 11 patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy, 82% have erections. Of the 6 patients with sexual partners who have been followed for 1 year, 4 (67%) are potent. These data suggest that erectile function can be preserved in most patients following radical prostatectomy and cystoprostatectomy.