Modified robotic simple prostatectomy technique: a retrospective analysis of a series of 162 surgeries performed by a high-volume surgeon.

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects up to 80% of men by age 80, with large-gland BPH often treated by simple prostatectomy (SP). This technique significantly improves symptoms but is associated with high rates of complications such as transfusions and infections. Minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted laparoscopic simple suprapubic prostatectomy (RALSP), have emerged as alternatives. This study reports on 162 patients who underwent RALSP from May 2018 to June 2023. The mean age of the patients was 69 years, mean prostate volume 144.8 cm³, mean robot time 78.7 min, and mean blood loss 183.1 mL. Results demonstrated significant improvements in the results: prostate volume (mean decrease from 144.8 to 26.6 cm³), mean PSA level decreased from 7.8 to 0.8 (p < 0.0001), mean IPSS decreased from 23.0 to 4.4 (p < 0.0001), and mean uroflowmetry increased from 6.3 to 22.6 ml/s (p < 0.0001). No patient experienced worsening erectile function after surgery. All patients showed absence of stress urinary incontinence within 3 months. Catheterization time decreased from 4.2 to 2.6 days over the study period. The postoperative complication rate was 2.29%, with no need for surgical reintervention for complications. While RALSP showed promising results, further prospective studies are needed to compare it with other techniques. This study highlights RALSP as a viable minimally invasive option for treating large-volume BPH, offering reduced recovery times and fewer complications.