Critical appraisal of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To perform a contemporary critical appraisal of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RaRP) through a review of the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Most studies of RaRP are observational and report perioperative, functional and short-term oncological outcomes. RaRP is associated with less blood loss and blood transfusion than open radical prostatectomy (ORP), has a positive margin rate of 9.4-20.9%, potency rate of 79.2-80.4% at 1 year and a continence rate of 90.2-97% at 1 year. Costs of the da Vinci system remain a limitation of this technique. SUMMARY: RaRP has shown rapid dissemination over the past few years in the US urological community. However, prospective randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up of RaRP, ORP and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy are still necessary.