In Abstract 28-04 (Shatloff, et al.) showed that robotic assistance allows for enough precision to partially resect the neurovascular bundle. New and reasonably compelling evidence was presented that a very experienced robotic surgeon could demonstrate a high correlation with personal assessment of partial resection that was correlated with pathologic findings. This of course needs to be confirmed by other centers.
Another issue examined was the impact of prostate size/weight on clinical outcomes. These findings support earlier findings associated with large prostates (>68 grams in this study) that larger prostates have generally less aggressive cancers and appear to recover sexual function more slowly (Abst. 28-08, Yates, et al.).
An interesting idea was promoted to decrease traction injury to the neurovascular bundle (NVB) by injecting the NVB under real time ultrasound assistance with water to assist in dissecting the NVB off the prostate. (Abst. 28-09). The study is very preliminary and there are no comparative results.
Also: Impact of prostate weight on robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy outcomes
by Jennifer Yates
and
TRUS - Doppler aided interfascial tissue planar dissection for nerve sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
by Paul Smith
Presented by Oscar Schatloff at the 29th World Congress of Endourology & SWL (WCE) - November 30 - December 3, 2011 - Kyoto International Conference Center - Kyoto, Japan
Reported for UroToday by Thomas E. Ahlering, MD, Professor & Vice Chairman, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, CA
View Full WCE 2011 Meeting Coverage
