Learning Curve for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for Pathologic T2 Disease.
- Author:
Jae Won LEE
1
;
Woo Ju JEONG
;
Sung Yul PARK
;
Enrique I S LOREAZO
;
Cheol Kyu OH
;
Koon Ho RHA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Learning; Prostatectomy; Robotics; Laparoscopy; Prostatic neoplasms
- MeSH: Body Mass Index; Humans; Laparoscopy; Learning; Learning Curve; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Robotics
- From:Korean Journal of Urology 2010;51(1):30-33
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the learning curve for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) for pathologic T2 disease, we examined differences in perioperative outcomes according to time period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and June 2008, a total of 307 consecutive patients underwent RALP for prostate cancer and 205 patients had pathologic T2 disease. Patients were grouped into 6-month time periods. We collected and examined the patient's perioperative data including age, body mass index (BMI), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), operation time, estimated blood loss, and positive surgical margin. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the groups in age (p=0.705), BMI (p=0.246), PSA (p=0.425), or prostate volume (p=0.380). Operation time (p<0.001) and estimated blood loss (p<0.001) decreased significantly with time. The positive surgical margin rate also showed a decreasing trend, but this was not significant (p=0.680). CONCLUSIONS: Operation time and estimated blood loss had a steep learning curve during the early 24 cases and then stabilized. A positive surgical margin rate, however, did not have a significant learning curve, although the positive surgical margin decreased continuously.
