Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes following radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer.
Study design and methods: The charts of 401 patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between 1992 and 2004 were reviewed.
Results: The average age was 63 years with a median PSA of 8.5 and median Gleason score of 5. Ninety one percent of the cases were diagnosed by a single prostate biopsy set (average 7 cores, range 3-16). Pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 84 patients (21.7%). Nodal involvement was noted in 5 (6%). Capsular invasion was found in 91 patients (24%), positive surgical margin in 78 (20.1%) and seminal vesicle involvement in 37 (9.5%). The average admission stay was 5.2 days (3-22). Fever (11.4%), urine leakage (8%), wound infection (4%) and pulmonary embolism (1.5%) were the most common early complications. One year after the operation 72% of the patients were fully continent. Of the 172 patients who underwent nerve-sparing procedure, 80 patients (46.5%) regained their sexual potency one year after the operation and did not require pharmacological assistance. Median follow-up time was 84 months. The five and eight years overall survival rates were 85% and 73%, respectively. Ten years survival of 136 patients (35%) with clinical stage T1C was 95%. Biochemical failure was observed in 68 patients (18%). The average time to biochemical failure was 12.5 months (range 0-76. median 12). Forty five patients (12%) died, twenty one (5.4%) due to metastatic disease. Mortality correlated to pre-operative PSA, clinical stage and Gleason score.
Conclusion: At one year follow up, most of the patients are continent and 46.5% have spontaneous erection following nerve-sparing procedure. The overall survival and the long-term outcomes of radical retropubic prostatectomy are equal to those reported in the current literature.