Introduction: Robotic surgery has transformed the standard treatment for localized prostate cancer. Oncologic control is at the foremost concern when treating prostate cancer. Previous studies have detailed the use of a periurethral suspension stitch during robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), but none have demonstrated significant improvement in surgical margins.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to illustrate the use of a periurethral suspension stitch during RARP and its impact on apical surgical margin status.
Methods: This study retrospectively analysed 97 patients who underwent RARP by a single high-volume robotic surgeon (TJM) between November 2011 and February 2014. The patients were split into two cohorts with one group (Suspended Stitch) having the dorsal venous complex (DVC) ligation stitch suspended while the second group having the DVC ligation stitch unsuspended (Unsuspended Stitch).
Results: Positive margins were seen in 39.6% of patients in the Unsuspended Stitch group and 20.4% of patients in the Suspended Stitch group (p=0.04). Patients in the Unsuspended Stitch group had a Gleason score > 7 in 33.3% of cases, where patients in the Suspended Stitch group had a Gleason score > 7 in 57.1% of cases.
Conclusion: Localized prostate cancer treatment has significantly changed with RARP. This study provides an additional technique for achieving improved oncologic control.
569: Differences in Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Patients Diagnosed with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer, Subjected to Either Open or Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy