Background:

The performance of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is increasing worldwide. In Mexico, 13 hospitals are equipped to carry out robotic surgery. In other countries, the procedure has been shown to reduce surgical morbidity, as well as providing the same effectiveness in oncologic and functional results offered by open prostatectomy.

Objective:

To report the results of the initial experience with RARP at the Centro Médico Naval and the short-term patient follow-up.

Material and Methods:

A retrospective review of the patients that underwent RARP at our unit and that had a postoperative follow-up of at least 6 months was conducted. The time frame of the study was from March 19, 2016 to April 30, 2018.

Results:

Forty-eight RARPs were performed. Mean age of the patients was 64.7 years and mean preoperative PSA was 10.4 ng/dl. Nineteen percent of the patients were classified as low-risk, 29% as intermediate-risk, and 52% as high- risk. In mean values, surgery duration was 240 minutes, blood loss was 223 ml, and hospital stay was 3.87 days. Nerve sparing was performed in 56.3% of the patients. Standard lymphadenectomy was carried out in 68.8% of the cases and the extended procedure in 31.2%. The positive surgical margin rate was 45.8%. A total of 14.6% patients had biochemical failure and 12.5% received postoperative external beam radiotherapy. Mean follow-up time was 9 months. We documented a complete continence rate of 91.3% and the quality of erectile function was sufficient for having sexual intercourse in 53.5% of the patients.

Conclusions:

The perioperative and functional morbidity results for the beginning of our learning curve were similar to those reported in the international literature, despite the high-risk characteristics of our population.

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