Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: recent advances.

Abstract

Robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) represents the leading application of robotic surgery in the urologic field and it has become the main treatment option for localized prostate cancer (PCa) in the USA In the present review we summarized and critically analyzed the literature of the past five years about this widely used robotic procedure. RARP has continuously evolved in terms of technical modifications and procedural steps. Long-term data are now available, suggesting comparable oncological outcomes to those of open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Good functional outcomes have also been demonstrated. Technological innovations and the introduction of more advanced robotic platforms featuring novel arm-integrated equipment, together with a mature clinical experience with the robotic approach, are likely to lead towards optimal outcomes. Despite the expanding clinical implementation of RARP in the management of prostate cancer, some issues related to this procedure remain matter of debate, such as costs, comparative outcomes versus other approaches, and its role in high risk disease.