Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Review of the Current State

Abstract

Cancer of the prostate is the most common malignancy diagnosed in the male genitourinary tract. Although a number of treatment options are available for early prostate cancer, the gold standard of treatment remains retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). However, robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has become a forerunner in treatment options, yielding comparable medium-term perioperative and functional outcomes. For this our team utilized MEDLINE searching for publications on perioperative and functional outcomes related to robotic prostatectomy. Robotic-assisted prostatectomy has allowed urologists to enter the realm of minimally invasive surgery by incorporating open surgery manoeuvres to a laparoscopic environment. To date RALP perioperative and functional outcomes are comparable to the gold standard. Collection of long-term data is needed in order to establish its true efficacy.