Less-experienced surgeons experience a lower perioperative morbidity rate and sound early oncologic outcomes with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, compared with other surgical interventions, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and a Urology Times report.
The researchers completed a meta-analysis of existing literature, including 251 research papers incorporating reviews of 65,552 open procedures, 23,687 laparoscopic procedures and 20,777 robotic procedures.
According to the report, high-volume surgeons experience no difference in outcomes between open, robotic and laparoscopic techniques. Robotic surgery reportedly has a "much shorter learning curve," making it easier to perform for less experienced surgeons. Open prostatectomy, on the other hand, is associated with more blood loss and longer recovery, and laparoscopy takes more time to learn and may be difficult for less-skilled surgeons.
The disadvantage to robotic surgery is the cost; the robot is very expensive, the researchers said. Robotic procedures may also be inappropriate for certain patients, including those with cardiac or pulmonary disease.
The study found that complications were most common with the open approach, intermediate for the laparoscopic group and lowest for the robotic group. The surgeons who performed the greatest number of procedures (sometimes in excess of 1,000) also tended to have better outcomes.
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The researchers completed a meta-analysis of existing literature, including 251 research papers incorporating reviews of 65,552 open procedures, 23,687 laparoscopic procedures and 20,777 robotic procedures.
According to the report, high-volume surgeons experience no difference in outcomes between open, robotic and laparoscopic techniques. Robotic surgery reportedly has a "much shorter learning curve," making it easier to perform for less experienced surgeons. Open prostatectomy, on the other hand, is associated with more blood loss and longer recovery, and laparoscopy takes more time to learn and may be difficult for less-skilled surgeons.
The disadvantage to robotic surgery is the cost; the robot is very expensive, the researchers said. Robotic procedures may also be inappropriate for certain patients, including those with cardiac or pulmonary disease.
The study found that complications were most common with the open approach, intermediate for the laparoscopic group and lowest for the robotic group. The surgeons who performed the greatest number of procedures (sometimes in excess of 1,000) also tended to have better outcomes.
Related Articles on Urology:
Urological Catheters Market to Reach $3B by 2017
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North Carolina Urology Practice Offers Photo Selective Laser Vaporization Prostatectomy