Photo Credit: Magicmine

This study was a retrospective cohort study with the goal of examining the functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure and early elevated retrograde liberation of the neurovascular bundle (PEEL).

Between June 1, 2022, and March 20, 2023, 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 153 cases of RARP with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure (PPSS) were included in this study. All patients were males, aged (62.5±5.2) years (range: 50 to 73 years). There were 18 cases of ≤T2b stage and 9 cases of T2c stage. After 1∶1 propensity score matching, the postoperative functional outcomes of 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 27 cases of RARP with PPSS were compared. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon and included patients were clinically staged as cT1-2N0M0 without preoperative urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction. In RARP with PEEL, the prostate was cut near the midline at the front when dissecting the neurovascular bundle, dissection was performed between the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia and the prostatic fascia, preserving the parietal layer and the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia, and the neurovascular bundle was retrogradely released from the apex.

The cumulative probability curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-rank test was used to compare the differences in functional outcomes between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare postoperative urinary continence and sexual function.

The recovery time of continence and potency was significantly longer in the PPSS group than in the PEEL group (all <0.05). The continence rate of the PEEL group was significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (92.59% 68.10%, =0.026) at 3 months after surgery. The potency rate of the PEEL group was also significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (40.70% 15.10%, =0.037) at 3 months after surgery. In the univariate analysis, compared to the PPSS technique, the PEEL technique was associated with a shorter recovery time of continence (=1.94, 95%: 1.08 to 3.48, =0.027) and a shorter recovery time of potency (=2.06, 95%: 1.03 to 4.13, =0.042). In the multivariate analysis, the PEEL technique was an independent prognosis factor for postoperative recovery of continence (=2.05, 95%: 1.01 to 4.17, =0.047) and potency (=3.57, 95%: 1.43 to 8.92, =0.007). All the cases of the PPSS group and the PEEL group were performed successfully with negative surgical margins.

Compared with PPSS, PEEL may be more conducive to the recovery of urinary continence and sexual function after RARP.