Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Technical and Early Oncological Assessment of 40 Operations

Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility, oncological efficacy and intraoperative and postoperative morbidity of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Method: We describe an original technique of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in 40 patients between 26th January and 12th October, 1998. Results: Radical prostatectomy was performed entirely by laparoscopy in 35 patients (87.5%) and only one conversion was performed in the last 26 patients (4%). Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in the light of preoperative staging data in 14 patients (35%). The median total operating time was 270 min. The only major complication was a rectal injury (patient 8), sutured laparoscopically with an uneventful postoperative course. Postoperative vesical catheterization lasted an average of 7.65 days. Seven patients were transfused (17.5%) with an average of 2.8 units of packed cells (range: 2–3). The reduction of postoperative pain is an element allowing for a rapid discharge of the patients by the 3rd postoperative day. The oncological results were as follows: 36 patients had a pT2 tumor (90%); prostate tumor was staged as N0 in 14 cases and NX in 26 cases. Surgical margins were negative in 33 patients (82.5%). Two patients had a doubtful resection margin (1 at the apex and 1 at the bladder neck) and 5 patients had positive margins. The last PSA level was undetectable (