Robotic Prostatectomy Has Low Complication Rate

A new study presents evidence supporting the safety of the robotic prostatectomy procedure, including what is believed to be one of the lowest complication rates to date.

Researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ; New Brunswick, USA) retrospectively examined the medical records associated with the first 200 robotic prostatectomy procedures performed at CNIJ, between January 2006 and December 2007. The patients were divided into four groups according to order of case number. Complications both during and after surgery were determined according to Clavien classification--a common scale used to help identify level of surgical complications.

The results showed that overall, 24 men (12%) experienced various complications, with 5 of the men experiencing complications during surgery and 19 exhibiting postoperative complications. No significant differences were reported between the group with complications and the group without in terms of age, body-mass index (BMI), biopsy Gleason score, and operative time. The study did show however, that those patients who experienced complications did have a higher prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, larger estimated blood loss, and longer hospital stay. The study was published the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Endourology.

"Many studies on negative surgical outcomes related to robotic prostatectomy have been reported, but we believe to date, our study is demonstrating one of the lowest overall complication rates of 12% without any grade four or five complications,” said lead author Isaac Yi Kim, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the CINJ section of urologic oncology, who performed the surgeries. "And as we continue to analyze patient outcomes after every 50 procedures, we are able to better recognize and address adverse trends in order to improve safety, thus helping to provide ideal outcomes for patients.”

The robotic prostatectomy procedure, which has become more commonplace over the past decade, results in a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, and faster recovery of sexual and urinary functions compared to the traditional surgical method of radical retropubic prostatectomy. In 2008, 60% of radical prostatectomies performed in the United States were completed with the robotic method.

Related Links:
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey