Salvage Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Experience with 14 Cases

Abstract

Aim: To report the outcomes of salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (S-RaRP).

Patients and methods: Fourteen patients underwent S-RaRP. The mean initial prostatic-specific antigen level was 14.3 ng/ml and mean Gleason score was 6.93. Initial definitive treatment was external irradiation in 11 cases, cyberknife in two, and high-intensity focused ultrasound in one. Time from definitive treatment to S-RaRP was a mean of 36.5 months.

Results: The mean console time was 134.9 min and blood loss was 99.6 ml. Stage pT2N0, T3N0, and T3N1 were found in eight, four, and two cases, respectively. A positive surgical margin was found in 21.4% (3/14) of the patients. The continence rate was 71.4% (10/14). Mild stress urinary incontinence (one or two pads/day) was noted in 28.6% (4/14) of patients. Biochemical recurrence-free status was noted in 11 (78.5%) patients with a mean follow-up of 32.4 months.

Conclusion: S-RaRP is feasible with a low complication rate, good continence rate, and an acceptable potency rate. The short-term oncological outcomes are encouraging.

Keywords: Laparoscopy; prostate cancer; robotics; salvage radical prostatectomy.