Purpose: Although single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP) is considered a safe and feasible approach for radical prostatectomy, the comparative performance of the SP robot with earlier models, including da Vinci Xi or Si, is elusive. This systematic review summarizes the current evidence on SP-RARP and compares its perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes to multiport robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (MP-RARP). Methods: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library database for randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that compare SP-RARP to MP-RARP. The primary outcomes included perioperative, functional, oncologic, and painful outcomes. The odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were applied for the comparison of dichotomous and continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven studies, including 1239 patients, were enrolled in the meta-analysis. We reported similar results for SP-RARP and MP-RARP in terms of the operative time, blood loss, continence and potency rates, complication rate, positive surgical margin, and biochemical recurrence. However, hospital stay (WMD -17.86 hours, 95% CI -27.80 to -7.92; p = 0.0004), catheterization time (WMD -1.51 days, 95% CI -2.60 to -0.41; p = 0.007), and the rate of opioid use (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.53; p = 0.0002) were less with SP-RARP. In addition, more patients did not require any pain medication during the hospital stay with SP-RARP (OR 14.41, 95% CI 5.22 to 39.76; p < 0.00001). Conclusions: SP-RARP is associated with a shorter hospital stay and catheterization time, and the need for postoperative pain medication is lower compared to MP-RARP, with comparable perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes.
Keywords: meta-analysis; multiport; prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy; robotic surgery; single-port.