Functional outcomes and oncological efficacy of Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve‐sparing: an analysis of 154 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVES To report updated results, at 1 year of follow‐up, of a modified nerve‐sparing robotic radical prostatectomy that preserves the lateral prostatic fascia (Veil of Aphrodite). PATIENTS AND METHODS From January to December 2003, 154 consecutive men had a Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve‐sparing by one surgeon. A prospective database recorded patient demographics, intraoperative, peri‐operative, and pathological variables. Peri‐operative complications were recorded using the Clavien classification. Patients had serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels measured every 3 months and self‐administered the International Prostate Symptom Score and Sexual Health Inventory for Male questionnaires before and at 1 year after surgery. RESULTS The men had a mean age of 57.4 years, a mean body mass index of 27.2 kg/m2, and a mean PSA level before surgery of 5.11 ng/mL. The mean operative duration was 122 min. At 1 year, 96% of the men reported having had intercourse and 71% had recovered normal erectile function. One man had a Clavien grade II complication, 4.6% of men with organ‐confined disease had positive surgical margins, and no patient had a PSA recurrence at 12 months; 97% of the men were continent at 1 year, and the median time to continence was 14 days. CONCLUSION Veil of Aphrodite nerve‐sparing surgery provides better recovery of sexual function at 1 year than in contemporary series from centres of excellence, without compromising cancer control and urinary function.