Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: The results

Abstract

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) is already a well-established, feasible, and safe alternative to the open approach for more than 10 years. Despite its steep learning curve and the dexterity needed on behalf of the surgeon, LRP evolved greatly over the last decade, taking advantage of the recent advances in laparoscopic and robotic equipment (especially the DaVinci System). During the course of time, the extraperitoneal approach to LRP gained more ground among laparoscopic surgeons, establishing the procedure as a viable, long-lasting, and constantly refined technique. The initial problems of insufficient long-term randomized prospective trials were surpassed over the last years, giving a boost to the technique, which was initially described as a European virus with global potentials [1, 2]. The results of LRP, presented in this chapter, are primarily divided in two categories: functional results, which include postoperative continence and potency, and oncological results.