The Learning Curve Analysis of Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Comparison with Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract

Purpose: We wanted to compare the early outcome of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) as performed by a laparoscopic surgeon without experience with retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), and open RRP as performed by an oncologic surgeon without experience with LRP. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the clinical data on the initial 31 LRPs (group 1) and the 107 RRPs (group 2), as performed by two surgeons at our institution. The two different surgeons performed each type of operation, respectively. Although each surgeon was an expert of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery respectively, they were unfamiliar with radical prostatectomy. Results: The mean operation time was longer in group 1 than in group 2 (303 minutes vs. 207 minutes, respectively, p 0.05), and no conversions or re-explorations were required and rectal injury did not occur in group 1. The histopathologic parameters of the two groups were comparable, especially in terms of the surgical margin positivity (37.9% vs. 43.4%, respectively, p>0.05). The continence rate and potency rate were also comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that early outcome of LRP is comparable to that of RRP. Especially the estimated blood loss and the rate of transfusions were lower in the LRP group. We believe that the surgical outcome of LRP will continue to improve at specialized centers as laparoscopic urologists gain experience, and even though an expert laparoscopic urologist may be a naive for prostate cancer surgery, the learning curve is overcome earlier than expected. (Korean J Urol 2008;49:18-23) 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏