Laparoscopic Extraperitoneal Radical Prostatectomy: The First 120 Cases Performed
- Resource Type
- Authors
- M. Remoti; S. Scuzzarella; G. Caruso; Pl. Giumelli; G. Martina
- Source
- Urologia Journal. 72:186-189
- Subject
- medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Prostatectomy
medicine.medical_treatment
General surgery
education
General Medicine
urologic and male genital diseases
medicine.disease
female genital diseases and pregnancy complications
Teaching hospital
Prostate cancer
Medicine
business
Laparoscopy
- Language
- ISSN
- 1724-6075
0391-5603
The present study describes the training approach that a laparoscopy naive general urologist working in a non teaching hospital employed to successfully learn to perform laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy and describes the results obtained in the first 120 cases performed. Methods The urologist assisted an experienced laparoscopic surgeon for a total of 20 extraperitoneal radical prostatectomies. During this time he modified his technic of performing open radical retropubic prostatectomy to facilitate the acquisition of the laparoscopic technics. Intracorporeal suturing was learned with the aid of a pelvic trainer. Results The operating time progressively decreased during the learning curve. The mean duration of surgery was 160 minutes. There were 2 conversions to open surgery due to failure to progress. Conclusions Laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy can be successfully learned by a general urologist with no prior laparoscopic experience.