In a nutshell
This study aimed to evaluate short and medium-term patient-reported side-effects after robotic prostate surgery. This study found that patient-reported outcome measures evaluating urinary symptoms and health related quality of life do not significantly change after robotic prostate surgery.
Some background
Removal of the prostate gland is a commonly used treatment option for prostate cancer. It can be done using the conventional technique or a 'robotic' technique. The main difference between these is that robotic surgery uses very small surgical excisions as compared to the conventional technique. It is thought that this will lead to less side-effects for patients.
It is unclear if robotic prostate surgery will improve patient reported side-effects or improve quality of life for these patients.
Methods & findings
This study aimed to evaluate robotic prostate surgery. It included 357 men between 2012 and 2015. Questionnaires were given to patients before surgery and after 6, 12, and 18 months to evaluate their side-effects.
Urinary symptoms, such as frequency, urgency, nighttime urination, and pain, that were reported at 18 months did not differ significantly after robotic prostate surgery. Health related quality of life scores did not differ either. Voiding (emptying the bladder) symptoms improved for these patients, however storage problems increased.
The bottom line
This study found that patient-reported outcome measures evaluating urinary symptoms and health related quality of life do not significantly change after robotic prostate surgery. Voiding at 18 months improved as compared to baseline.
The fine print
Patients enrolled in this study would have baseline urinary symptoms.
Published By :
Urologic oncology
Date :
Jun 09, 2018
