Background: Whether early ligation of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) might improve recovery of urinary continence (UC) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has never been investigated in a prospective randomized study. Objective: To assess whether early DVC ligation might affect UC recovery after RARP. Intervention: DVC ligation (early vs standard). Design, setting, and participants: A total of 312 patients with prostate cancer underwent primary RARP at a tertiary care institution. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary outcome was UC recovery at 1 and 4 mo after RARP. UC was defined as 0 pads/1 safety pad per day. All patients completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ)-Short Form questionnaires. Secondary outcomes were early (≤4 mo) erectile function recovery, the positive surgical margin (PSM) rate, 30-d Clavien-Dindo complications, and biochemical recurrence rates. Quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The association between treatment arm and UC recovery was also tested using multivariable regression models. Results and limitations: After surgery, 23 patients withdrew their consent and 29 were lost to follow-up, leaving 261 patients available for per-protocol analyses. Of these, 32 patients (24%) in the experimental group and 37 (29%) in the control group used no pad/one safety pad at 1 mo after RARP, whereas 96 (72%) in the control group versus 83 (65%) in the control group were continent at 4-mo follow-up (both p = 0.3). Median ICIQ and IPSS scores did not differ between the groups at both time points. The results were confirmed on multivariable regression analyses. PSMs were observed for 32 patients (25%) in the experimental group versus 30 (22%) in the control group (p = 0.6). The incidence of postoperative complications (17% experimental vs 13% control) and the 1-yr biochemical recurrence–free survival did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: In this randomized clinical trial, we did not find evidence that early ligation of the DVC during RARP was associated with better UC recovery after surgery in comparison to the standard technique. Given its safety in terms of surgical margins and complications, this technique may be considered as an option for surgical dissection according to the physician's preference. Patient summary: Our trial showed that for patients undergoing robot-assisted surgical removal of the prostate, the timing of a specific step to control bleeding from a network of veins draining the prostate did not affect recovery of urinary continence after surgery. The results indicate that earlier control of these veins may be considered as an option according to the surgeon's preference.

Impact of Early Dorsal Venous Complex Ligation on Urinary Continence Recovery after Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Results from a Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial / A Bravi, Carlo; Gandaglia, Giorgio; Mazzone, Elio; Fossati, Nicola; Gallina, Andrea; Stabile, Armando; Scuderi, Simone; Barletta, Francesco; Nocera, Luigi; Rosiello, Giuseppe; Martini, Alberto; Pellegrino, Francesco; Cucchiara, Vito; Dehò, Federico; Capitanio, Umberto; Scattoni, Vincenzo; Salonia, Andrea; Briganti, Alberto; Montorsi, Francesco. - In: EUROPEAN UROLOGY FOCUS. - ISSN 2405-4569. - 9:1(2022), pp. 83-88. [Epub ahead of print] [10.1016/j.euf.2022.09.003]

Impact of Early Dorsal Venous Complex Ligation on Urinary Continence Recovery after Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Results from a Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial

Giorgio Gandaglia;Elio Mazzone;Armando Stabile;Simone Scuderi;Francesco Barletta;Luigi Nocera;Giuseppe Rosiello;Alberto Martini;Francesco Pellegrino;Vito Cucchiara;Andrea Salonia;Alberto Briganti;Francesco Montorsi
2022-01-01

Abstract

Background: Whether early ligation of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) might improve recovery of urinary continence (UC) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has never been investigated in a prospective randomized study. Objective: To assess whether early DVC ligation might affect UC recovery after RARP. Intervention: DVC ligation (early vs standard). Design, setting, and participants: A total of 312 patients with prostate cancer underwent primary RARP at a tertiary care institution. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary outcome was UC recovery at 1 and 4 mo after RARP. UC was defined as 0 pads/1 safety pad per day. All patients completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ)-Short Form questionnaires. Secondary outcomes were early (≤4 mo) erectile function recovery, the positive surgical margin (PSM) rate, 30-d Clavien-Dindo complications, and biochemical recurrence rates. Quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The association between treatment arm and UC recovery was also tested using multivariable regression models. Results and limitations: After surgery, 23 patients withdrew their consent and 29 were lost to follow-up, leaving 261 patients available for per-protocol analyses. Of these, 32 patients (24%) in the experimental group and 37 (29%) in the control group used no pad/one safety pad at 1 mo after RARP, whereas 96 (72%) in the control group versus 83 (65%) in the control group were continent at 4-mo follow-up (both p = 0.3). Median ICIQ and IPSS scores did not differ between the groups at both time points. The results were confirmed on multivariable regression analyses. PSMs were observed for 32 patients (25%) in the experimental group versus 30 (22%) in the control group (p = 0.6). The incidence of postoperative complications (17% experimental vs 13% control) and the 1-yr biochemical recurrence–free survival did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: In this randomized clinical trial, we did not find evidence that early ligation of the DVC during RARP was associated with better UC recovery after surgery in comparison to the standard technique. Given its safety in terms of surgical margins and complications, this technique may be considered as an option for surgical dissection according to the physician's preference. Patient summary: Our trial showed that for patients undergoing robot-assisted surgical removal of the prostate, the timing of a specific step to control bleeding from a network of veins draining the prostate did not affect recovery of urinary continence after surgery. The results indicate that earlier control of these veins may be considered as an option according to the surgeon's preference.
2022
Dorsal venous complex
Functional outcomes
Prostate cancer
Randomized controlled trial
Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy
Urinary continence
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11768/132453
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact