Robotic radical prostatectomy: present and future.

Abstract

The last 10 years have witnessed unprecedented evolution regarding de surgical removal of the prostate gland. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy broke the open paradigm and started to generate great excitement and expectations. Shortly however, robot-assisted, laparoscopic - Robotic Surgery - emerged to address a fundamental pitfall of prostate laparoscopic surgery: execution reproducibility. Today, robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is the most used surgical approach to remove the prostate gland. Consistent advantages of this technique are: a shorter convalescent state, marked decrease in blood loss and in experienced hands, shorter average surgical times. Importantly it served to highlight the importance of outcomes as ultimate judge of a procedure success. The data suggest equivalency in long-term functional and oncological outcomes, while clear advantages in the short run: perioperative outcomes with patient rapid return to productive state. That said, the major challenge for robotic surgeons still remains: establish a paradigm that breaks with the tradition and prevents biased reporting due to technology and marketing enthusiasm, but rather takes a critical approach based in prospective, controlled, randomize clinical trials. If the latter objective is reached, urologic robotic surgeons will deliver counseling based on clinical evidence delivering major progress for our Urology field.