Robotic prostatectomy - a review
El-Hakim, A.; Tewari, A.
Medgenmed Medscape General Medicine 6(4): 20
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1531-0132 PMID: 15775847 Document Number: 583585
To review the current medical literature on robotic prostatectomy (RP) and report clinical outcomes of this newly developed technique. A MEDLINE search was performed using the following headings: prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, robotics, robot assisted, laparoscopy, telesurgery. In addition, recently published abstracts on RP were reviewed. Studies that reported clinical and pathological variables of patients undergoing RP were included in this meta-analysis. Data were extracted from published articles and abstracts. Robotic systems enhance surgeons' technical abilities and offer the potential of precise surgical technique. Short-term follow-up studies demonstrate that RP is at least comparable in efficacy to open and laparoscopic prostatectomy, including clinical and pathologic parameters. RP has benefits of minimal invasiveness, decreased blood loss, and quicker recovery compared with open surgery. Functional and cancer control results are still immature, but most studies reported favorable outcomes. RP is a promising minimally invasive surgical approach for men with prostate cancer. Short-term clinical and pathological results are comparable to those with open and laparoscopic prostatectomy.