Introduction: Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) has largely replaced the open technique worldwide as the first surgical modality for prostate cancer. We aim at describing the experience of RARP at a high-volume single cancer center, proposing a modified technique of nerve-sparing prostatectomy and comparing functional outcomes throughout our experience. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1088 patients divided into group 1 (operated from May 2013 to November 2014), submitted to the standard transperitoneal robotic technique, and group 2 (operated from December 2014 to December 2017), submitted to extraperitoneal RARP with complete anterior peri-prostatic preservation technique and a clipless approach (no use of clips and cautious use of bipolar energy). We constructed a retrospective 1:2 matched-pair analysis considering age, body mass index, D'Amico risk classification, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification as matching criteria. Univariate and multivariate Cox logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictors related to recovery of continence and erectile function. Results: Groups were comparable by clinical and demographic variables. There was no significant difference in overall continence rate. Mean time for continence recovery was 6.6 months in group 1 and 5.8 months in group 2. Erectile function recovery, with or without drugs, in 12 months was described in 53.5% in group 1 and 75% in group 2. Potency recovery was significantly earlier in group 2. Conclusions: In our experience, extraperitoneal RARP with complete anterior peri-prostatic preservation and a clipless approach is a feasible and reproducible technique. It demonstrated improved erectile function recovery and similar continence results. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.
Keywords: outcomes assessment; peri-prostatic preservation; prostate cancer; robotic surgery.