Comparison of the initial robot-assisted radical prostatectomy results with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the functional results of an established technique, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and the initial learning curve of robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP). METHODS: This is a transversal case-control hybrid studio including all patients undergoing RALRP (39) and similar number of patients undergoing LRP (37) from November 2009 to June 2011. We used a transversal phone interrogatory to evaluate functional outcome. RESULTS: The groups were comparable for IMC, age, serum PSA, prostatic ultrasound volume, biopsy Gleason, following time and clinical stage. For operative variables, there was no difference in estimated blood loss, hospital stay, days of drainage, time to catheter removal, transfusion rate and surgical margins. Median operative time was 216 min for RALRP, and 753 min for LRP (p<0,001). There were no differences in erectile function or continence at 12 months. Mean time to continence was 5.7 weeks in RALRP and 8.9 week in LRP (p<0,001). There was no difference in time to normal erectile function. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the beginning of RALRP we did obtain results comparable to LRP.