Does robotic technology mitigate the challenges of large prostate size?

OBJECTIVES: For radical prostatectomy, the advantages of robotic surgery may facilitate precise dissection and improve functional outcomes. However, patients with larger prostates may still pose increased challenges because of impaired visualization and mobility in the pelvis. For this reason, we undertook a study to better understand the relationships between large prostate size and robotic prostatectomy outcomes with respect to intraoperative and pathologic factors.
METHODS: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy from 2003 to 2008 at our institution were included in this retrospective study. Prostate size was categorized into 3 groups (< 50, 50-100, > 100 g). We compared surgical and quality of life (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite [EPIC] scores) outcomes among groups using generalized linear models and chi-square testing.
RESULTS: Patients with the largest prostates had longer operative times (> 100 vs < 50 g, 250 vs 232 minutes, P < .01) and more blood loss (> 100 vs < 50 g, 250 vs 155 mL, P = .01). Conversely, these patients had fewer positive surgical margins and lower Gleason sums (both P < .01). Despite worse baseline irritative symptoms (> 100 vs < 50 g, 79.7 vs 90.0, P < .001) and sexual function (> 100 vs < 50 g, 38.2 vs 77.9, P < .001), these differences resolved at 3 months (P = .92, P = .88, respectively). Recovery of continence was relatively sluggish compared with that in patients with the smallest prostates (> 100 vs < 50 g; 44.0, 62.2, P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS: Not surprisingly, larger prostate size was associated with increased operative times and blood loss, although of questionable clinical significance. While these patients appeared to benefit regarding irritative symptoms, recovery of continence was delayed. Longer follow-up is needed to further assess recovery.