OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience and lessons from 100 cases retropubic radical prostatectomy performed in the past 10 years.

METHODSFrom July 1999 to July 2009, we performed 100 cases of retropubic radical prostatectomy, of which 84 were followed up for 3 - 120 months. We analyzed their preoperative age, PSA level, amount of intraoperative blood transfusion, operation time, urinary continence, penile erectile function, stricture of the anastomotic stoma and Qmax.

RESULTSThe mean age, PSA level, amount of intraoperative blood transfusion, operation time were 66.8 yr, 20.1 ng/ml, 585.7 ml and 198.9 min; the recovery rates of bladder control at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively were 65.5%, 81.7% and 92.4%, respectively. At 12 months after surgery, penile erection was restored in 19 cases (42.2%), anastomotic stoma stricture developed in 5 (5.9%), Qmax averaged 20.5 ml/min, biochemical recurrence was found in 13, and 1 died from prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONRetropubic radical prostatectomy is a desirable procedure for the treatment of local prostate cancer, in which ligation of the puboprostatic ligament and prostatic venous plexus before cutting off the ligament helps improve urinary continence, protection of the neurovascular bundle and collateral pudendal artery contributes to the recovery of penile erectile function, and proper connection of urethral and bladder mucosa can reduce anastomotic stoma stricture. Postoperative external-beam radiotherapy for those with T3a or local lymph node metastasis could decrease biochemical recurrence.