Single‐port robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: initial experience and technique with the da Vinci®SP platform

Abstract

To assess the safety and feasibility of the da Vinci® SP (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) robotic platform for a consecutive series of patients who underwent single-port robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (SP-RALP). In all, 10 consecutive patients with biopsy confirmed prostate cancer underwent SP-RALP at our institution. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative data were prospectively collected for key outcomes including: estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, postoperative pain requirements, duration of hospital stay, and complications. The patients were aged 52-77years with a body mass index of 24.4-36.7kg/m2 . Prostate volumes ranged from 26 to 136mL, with a mean (sd) PSA (prostate specific antigen) level of 11.0(10.6)ng/mL. Lymph node dissection was performed in four patients and nerve sparing in five. No intraoperative complications occurred, and no patients required conversion to an open approach. Total EBL was 20-150mL, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) console time of 189(171-207)min and operative time of 234(216-247)min. No patients were readmitted or required intervention. Urethral catheters were removed at a median (IQR) of 10(8-11)days after surgery. SP-RALP appears to be a safe and feasible approach to performing robotic radical prostatectomy. Long-term follow-up will be necessary to assess initial oncological and functional results.