Efficiency of the three-dimensional visualization system in the performance of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Abstract

Introduction. The three-dimensional (3D) imaging during laparoscopic procedures can improve the quality of that surgeries. There is a shortage of publications about the potential benefits of 3D navigation in laparoscopic surgery with urological diseases. Radical prostatectomy (RPE) is known as the gold standard of treatment of localized prostate cancer (PC), and investigation of imaging technologies in laparoscopic surgery in PC patients is a hot topic. Aim. To compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic RPE performed with 3D and two-dimensional (2D) imaging. Materials and methods. We performed retrospective analysis of perioperative outcomes in 146 patients who had undergone radical surgery with localized PC. All the patients were divided into 4 groups by the surgery features: 1) 2D imaging with the technique for neurovascular bundles preservation (TNVBP) (n=52); 2) 2D without TNVBP (n=46); 3) 3D with TNVBP (n=23); 4) 3D without TNVBP (n=25). We assessed operative time, intraoperative blood loss volume (IBLV), duration of the bladder drainage, positive surgical margin (PSM) detection rate, duration of the postoperative inpatient period, urinary continence recovery rate, erectile function recovery (EFR) rate. Results and discussion. In groups 1, 2, 3, 4 the operative time was 171,4±21,1, 168,3±23,2, 98,7±17,3, 92,2±22,2 min, and the IBLV was 294,2±62,1, 281,2±53,2, 144,2±31,7, 148,5±33,0 mL, respectively. PSM detection rate was 1,92±0,11%, 2,17±0,04% in groups 1, 2, while PSM had not been detected in groups 3, 4. In all the participants, duration of the bladder drainage was 5–7 days, and the full recovery of urinary continence was detected at both 6 and 12 months after the surgery. The postoperative inpatient period was 8–10 days in groups 1, 2, and 8–9 days in groups 3, 4. The EFR at 3 months after the surgery was detected in 38,4%, 28,3%, 34.8%, 28.0% of patients, while at 12 months it was detected in 59,6%, 41,3%, 82,6%, 56,0% of patients in groups 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively. Conclusion. We revealed the following features of perioperative period of laparoscopic RPE performed with 3D imaging compared to 2D: 1) the operative time was reduced by 42–45% (р<0,05); 2) the IBLV was reduced by 47–51% (р<0,05); 3) the PSM had not been detected; 4) there was the tendency to the shorter postoperative inpatient period; 5) the EFR rate was increased by 1,3–1,4 times (р<0,05), and the best EFR outcomes were obtained via 3D imaging together with TNVBP. Thus, our study demonstrates the advisability of usage of both 3D imaging and TNVBP during the laparoscopic RPE.