Histological evaluation of nerve sparing technique in robotic assisted radical prostatectomy

Introduction: The objective of this study is to compare intrafascial nerve-sparing (NS), interfascial NS and non-NS prostatecomy specimens to assess the feasibility of NS technique in Robot-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP). Materials and Methods: The records of the first 43 consecutive patie...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kazushi Tanaka, Katsumi Shigemura, Nobuyuki Hinata, Mototsugu Muramaki, Hideaki Miyake, Masato Fujisawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Urology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2014;volume=30;issue=3;spage=268;epage=272;aulast=Tanaka
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Summary:Introduction: The objective of this study is to compare intrafascial nerve-sparing (NS), interfascial NS and non-NS prostatecomy specimens to assess the feasibility of NS technique in Robot-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP). Materials and Methods: The records of the first 43 consecutive patients (86 prostatic sides (lobe) who underwent NS RARP (6 intrafascial NS, 46 interfacial NS, 34 non-NS) were reviewed and histopathological examinations were performed. The presence and distribution of periprostatic neurovascular structures were histologically evaluated using mid-gland section of each prostate lobe in the prostatectomy specimen and it was immunostained with the S-100 antibody for quantitative analysis of nerves. Results: The average number of nerve fibers per prostatic half was 37.2 ± 20.6. The number of resected peri-prostatic nerves counted was 13.7 ± 13.5, 30.5 ± 15.0 and 50.4 ± 20.4 in intrafascial NS, interfascial NS and non-NS specimens, respectively. The difference in the number of nerve bundle counts in the three groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Patients with urinary continence at 6 months after surgery had significantly less number of nerve fibers resected with the prostate than the incontinence group (P = 0.013) and the number of nerve fi bers resected in the potent group were lower than in the impotent group but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.057). Conclusions: Our study showed that NS RARP could be performed according to surgeons′ intention (intrafascial, interfascial or non-NS) and urinary continence significantly correlated to the number of nerve fibers resected with the prostate.
ISSN:0970-1591
1998-3824