Purpose: A small incision (minilaparotomy) radical retropubic prostatectomy is described and evaluated. A newly designed self-retaining retractor was used as a robot and functioned as a second operative assistant.
Materials and methods: A total of 522 consecutive patients underwent minilaparotomy radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon (F. F. M.) between 1991 and 1997. The technique of minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy (a 7 to 8 cm. midline incision) is described in detail.
Results: A questionnaire was mailed to all 522 patients and there were 265 responses. Satisfactory continence was achieved in the short term in 85% of patients (0 to 1 pad). Of the patients 83% had a prostate specific antigen of less than 0.2 ng./ml. at average followup of 2.6 years. There was no operative mortality and the overall complication rates were similar to other patients treated by the same department staff with a larger incision. The typical patient was discharged home 3 days postoperatively.
Conclusions: Minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy compares favorably with standard radical retropubic prostatectomy.