New Orleans—Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) shows promise as a viable alternative to open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in the surgical treatment of prostate cancer, researchers said at the American College Of Surgeons Clinical Congress held in October.
The investigators, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester, said their findings suggest that using laparoscopic techniques might improve patient length of stay in hospitals.
"The principal goals are to minimize the incision and the associated problems of being in the hospital longer, being on pain medications longer, and being out of work longer," said Douglas Dahl, MD, who led the research team and is now on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.
Over an 18-month period, 37 consecutive patients with prostate cancer underwent LRP. All operations were performed by one of two designated urologists. The control was the prior 37 patients undergoing RRP by the same . . . [Full Text of this Article]
