The objective of the study was to evaluate the long-term results of retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). From 2001 to 2005, 550 consecutive patients underwent a laparoscopic extraperitoneal prostatectomy in our department. Continence and erectile function were analysed prospectively by a self-administrated questionnaire. Mean operating time was 188 min, mean bladder catheterisation time 5.9 days, mean hospital stay 4.6 days Pathological stage was pT2 in 55.8%, pT3a in 29.6%, pT3b in 9.1% and pT4a in 5.4% tumours. Positive surgical margins were 17.9% for pT2, 44.8% for pT3 tumours and 71.4% for pT4a tumours. Five years survival without biochemical progression was 78.8%. After 24 months of follow-up, diurnal continence rate was 91%, and potency rate was 64% when both neurovascular bundles were preserved, 78.6% when the patients were younger than 60 years. LRP is now a standardised procedure. An extraperitoneal approach combines the advantages of a laparoscopic procedure with those of an extraperitoneal approach.
These data are intriguing since the risk of finding prostate carcinoma on repeat sextant biopsy in the LGPIN group is 30%. This is higher than commonly reported. The importance of recognising and re-biopsying HGPIN was confirmed. If chemoprevention could be shown to be effective, it might be beneficial not only in HGPIN but also in LGPIN. The possible activity of chemopreventive agents and their combination with iso-flavonoids needs further investigation.
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