Abstract
BackgroundRobot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for prostate cancer. During RALP, the patient must be in a steep Trendelenburg (head-down) position, which leads to a significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). The association of RALP with visual field sensitivity, however, has not been prospectively studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the visual field, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and optic disc morphology in 50 normal eyes of 25 male patients that underwent RALP.MethodsThe subjects were 25 males among 33 consecutive patients who underwent uneventful RALP under general anesthesia in our hospital. Visual field tests using the Humphrey visual field analyzer 30-2 SITA-standard program were performed before, 7 days after, and 1-3 months after RALP. IOP was measured before, during, and after RALP; and ophthalmologic examinations, including slit-lamp, fundus examination, and optical coherence tomography (OCT), were scheduled before and 7 days after surgery.ResultsIOP was significantly increased during RALP up to 29.4 mmHg (P<0.01). Postoperative local visual field defects were detected in 7 eyes of 7 subjects dominantly in the lower hemifield without abnormal findings in the optic nerve head or retina, and the visual field recovered to normal within 3 months after surgery. General factors associated with RALP, IOP, RNFL thickness, or optic disc parameters did not differ significantly between eyes with and without postoperative visual field defects, and parameters of OCT measurements were not altered after surgery.ConclusionTransient but significant unilateral visual field defects were found in 28% of the subjects examined. The probable cause are the increased IOP and altered perfusion during surgery and ophthalmologic examinations are therefore suggested before and after RALP.
Highlights
Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is commonly performed in many countries, with more than 114,000 cases performed worldwide in 2013
During RALP, the patient must be in a steep Trendelenburg position, which leads to a significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP)
General factors associated with RALP, IOP, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, or optic disc parameters did not differ significantly between eyes with and without postoperative visual field defects, and parameters of optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements were not altered after surgery
Summary
Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is commonly performed in many countries, with more than 114,000 cases performed worldwide in 2013. Postoperative visual field loss has been recognized as a serious complication, and steep Trendelenburg position may cause it by significant intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation during the surgery. [8] On the other hand, a prospective study in which IOP, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and visual acuity were examined before and after RALP, reported no significant change in RNFL thickness or visual acuity, despite a significantly increased IOP during the procedure. Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for prostate cancer. During RALP, the patient must be in a steep Trendelenburg (head-down) position, which leads to a significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the visual field, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and optic disc morphology in 50 normal eyes of 25 male patients that underwent RALP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
