Robotic radical prostatectomy in Australia: initial experience.

The purpose of this study is to describe the initial experience of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in Australia. Since the installation of the daVinci system at the Australian Institute for Robotic Surgery, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne in December 2003, 275 robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies have been performed by two surgeons. A prospective database is compiled for each procedure including patient, operative and outcome details. We report on the initial learning curve, surgical technique and modifications, anaesthetic considerations and surgical results comparative to open radical prostatectomy in a single surgeons experience along with margin positivity rates for the first 200 cases of RARP. RARP is the single most frequent adaptation of robotic-assisted surgery with promising initial results. Increasing availability of this modality will inevitably give rise to further adaptations. We present the initial Australian experience.