CLEVELAND, OH USA (Press Release) - December 3, 2012 -
Head-To-Head Study Measures Patient Reports of Urinary Continence, Sexual Function
A Cleveland Clinic study of more than 300 prostate cancer patients over a two-year period shows that urinary continence and sexual function scores are similar after robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) and open radical prostatectomy (ORP).
Whether patients underwent RALRP or ORP at a high-volume hospital, they reported similar quality-of-life outcomes, according to results presented at the winter meeting of the Society of Urologic Oncology.
Researchers compared urinary continence and sexual function among 190 patients treated by RALRP and 171 patients treated by ORP at Cleveland Clinic. The 361 patients were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal quality-of-life protocol. Researchers concluded that the technical skill of the surgeon appears to be a major determinant of a successful outcome.
“These operations were performed by high-volume experienced surgeons in their field, which may explain the absence of significant differences in the outcomes,” said Andrew Stephenson, M.D., a urologist in the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at Cleveland Clinic. “This suggests that the experience and technique of the individual surgeon play the greatest role in achieving a successful outcome rather than the surgical approach that is employed.”
RALRP is a minimally invasive technique that allows surgeons to operate through small ports. It has been gaining popularity over the open prostate surgery, where the prostate gland is removed through a larger incision in the lower abdomen.
Dr. Stephenson used a validated quality-of-life instrument to determine the impact of RALRP and ORP on urinary continence and sexual function. Functional outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Patients reported similar sexual function after RALRP and ORP at all time points. Urinary continence is similar between both techniques, although RALRP patients may experience a slightly slower return to continence.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals and 18 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 167,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.
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