Comparison of early postoperative effects between anterior bladder and posterior bladder approaches in robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with different approaches on early postoperative effects. Methods: Totally 44 patients (average age of 65.9 years, range: 46 to 81 years) underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy by a single operator at Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical Collage Hospital from March 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was 65.9 years (range: 46 to 81 years), including 24 cases in the anterior bladder approach group (anterior approach group) and 20 cases in the posterior bladder approach group (posterior approach group). The preoperative clinical data, perioperative related data and postoperative urinary control recovery were compared between the two groups by t test, χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Results: In terms of clinical data, there was no difference in age, prostate volume, preoperative prostate specific antigen and Gleason score(all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time ((184±43) minutes vs. (193±42) minutes, t=-0.599, P=0.55), bleeding volume ((218±88) ml vs. (225±115) ml, t=-0.244, P=0.81), postoperative stage (T2/T3: 15/9 vs. 12/8, χ²=0.029, P=0.87) and positive rate of cutting edge (29.2% (7/24) vs. 30.0% (6/20), χ²=0.004, P=0.95). In terms of postoperative urinary control, patient rates who achieved urinary control immediately after extubation was significantly higher for the posterior approach group than the anterior approach group (30.0% (6/20) vs. 4.2% (1/24), P=0.04). There was no significant difference between two groups for those who achieved urinary control 3 months after operation (6 cases vs. 11 cases, P=0.06), 6 months after operation (20 cases vs. 19 cases, P=0.36) and those who achieved urinary control 12 months after operation (23 cases vs. 19 cases, P=1). Conclusion: For robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, the posterior approach does not prolong the operation time, does not increase the amount of bleeding, and improves the short-term postoperative urinary control.