OBJECTIVES: The outcomes of patients with prostate cancer who were candidates for radical prostatectomy were compared with patients who underwent either: (1) radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP); or (2) laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection, laparoscopically assisted seminal vesicle mobilization, and total perineal prostatectomy (LN-SV-TPP).METHODS: The staging, surgical, and early postoperative characteristics of 10 consecutive patients treated by RRP were compared with 12 consecutive patients who underwent LN-SV-TPP.RESULTS: Patients who underwent LN-SV-TPP versus RRP had respective median blood loss of 450 versus 1250 cc (P = 0.001), median anesthesia time of 330 versus 287.5 minutes (P = 0.05), median surgical time of 237.5 versus 237.5 minutes (P = 0.6), median units transfused of 0 versus 1 (P = 0.05), median time to ambulation of 1 versus 2 days (P = 0.002), median time to oral intake of 1 versus 3.5 days (P < 0.001), median hospital stay of 3 versus 6 days (P < 0.001), and median morphine requirements of 44 versus 119 mg (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: LN-SV-TPP is less morbid than RRP concerning blood loss, blood transfusions, pain, and postoperative recovery. Compared with LN-SV-TPP, RRP is faster and is particularly indicated for ease of performing a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
Aged Biopsy