Significance of Postoperative Membranous Urethral Length and Position of Vesico-Urethral Anastomosis for Short Term Continence Recovery Following Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Background We assess whether short term recovery of urinary incontinence following robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) is associated with preoperative membranous urethral length (MUL) and position of vesico-urethral anastomosis (PVUA). Methods Clinical variables including PVUA and pre- and postoperative MUL were evaluated in 251 patients who underwent RARP from August 2019 to February 2021. Continence recovery was defined as no pad or one security liner per day assessed by patient interview at least 6 months follow-up. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess variables associated with continence recovery at 3 months after the operation. Results Continence recovery rates at 3 and 6 months were 75% and 84%, respectively. Lower BMI (<25 kg/m2) (p = 0.040), longer preoperative MUL (≥9.5mm) (p = 0.013), longer postoperative MUL (≥9mm) (p <0.001), higher PVUA (<14.5mm) (p = 0.019) and shorter operating time (<170min) (p = 0.013) were significantly associated with continence recovery at 3 months in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative MUL (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.90 – 7.40, p <0.001) and higher PVUA (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.07 – 3.82, p = 0.032) were independent factors for continence recovery. Patients were divided into three groups based on the multivariate analysis, with urinary continence recovery rates found to have increased in turn with rates of 43.7% vs. 68.2% vs. 85.0% (p <0.001) at three months. Conclusions PVUA and postoperative MUL were significant factors for short term continence recovery. Preservation of urethral length might contribute to continence recovery after RARP.

A comparison of the da Vinci Xi vs. da Vinci Si surgical systems for radical prostatectomy

Background To compare the perioperative and short-term efficacy and cost of the da Vinci Xi and da Vinci Si surgical systems for radical prostatectomy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 175 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Si or Xi surgical systems in our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020. Of the 175 patients, 82 underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Xi surgery system, and 93 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Si surgical system. The perioperative outcomes, short-term efficacy and costs were compared between the two groups. Results The anesthesia time, operation time, docking time, indwelling catheter time and postoperative bed rest time in the Xi group were shorter than those in the Si group (respectively, 268.8 min vs. 219.3 min, P = 0.001; 228.2 min vs. 259.6 min, P < 0.001; 7.4 min vs. 12.7 min, P < 0.001; 8.6 d vs. 9.7 d, P = 0.036; 2.2 d vs. 2.6 d, P = 0.002). However, the total cost of hospitalization and the cost of intraoperative consumables in the Xi group were higher than those in the Si group (84,740.7 vs. 76,739.1 ¥, P = 0.003; 13,199.4 vs. 10,823.0 ¥, P = 0.019). Conclusions Although the cost of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is higher, compared with the Si system, the Xi system has better perioperative outcomes and can provide similar short-term efficacy and oncology outcomes.

Blood transfusion had no influence on the 5-year biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a retrospective study

Background Although red blood cells (RBC) transfusion is known to be significantly associated with biochemical recurrence in patients undergoing open prostatectomy, its influence on biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the effect of RBC transfusion on the 5-year biochemical recurrence in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at single tertiary academic hospital between October 2007 and December 2014. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify any potential variables associated with 5-year biochemical recurrence. Results A total of 1311 patients were included in the final analysis. Of these, 30 patients (2.3%) were transfused with RBC either during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy or during their hospital stay, which corresponded to 5-year biochemical recurrence of 15.7%. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that RBC transfusion had no influence on the 5-year biochemical recurrence. Variables including pathologic T stage (Hazard ratio [HR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4–5.1 p < 0.001), N stage (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5–3.7, p < 0.001), Gleason score (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8–3.2, p < 0.001), and surgical margin (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5–2.8, p < 0.001) were independently associated with the 5-year biochemical recurrence. Conclusions RBC transfusion had no significant influence on the 5-year biochemical recurrence in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.