Robotic Prostatectomy ?Too soon to tell?

Implications: The data gives a mixed review regarding the robotic assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.  There is a clear advantage in regards to a significantly decreased risk of bleeding, post operative pain, and earlier return to normal activities.  However, the data does not show a clinical advantage in cancer cure or clinically significant improvement in cancer control.  Much more data is needed over a longer period of time.  The article does not mention surgeon experience, i.e. those who have done many robotic prostatectomies vs. a surgeon with a limited experience.  Nor does the article mention post operative complications such as preservation of erectile function and continence control.

Analysis: I am confident that with time, the robotic prostatectomy will be the standard of care for the surgical treatment of localized prostate cancer. The lowered risk of intra- and post-op complications, in my opinion, makes this the treatment of choice in the hands of a highly experienced laparoscopic urologic surgeon.