Outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomies by a single surgeon alternating operating position

The clinical outcome of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) was retrospectively investigated taking into consideration the surgeon s position during the procedure. The study cohort included 184 consecutive patients who had undergone L R P performed by a single surgeon from February 2013 to July 2018. During the study period, the surgeon stood alternately on either the left or right side of the patient. The D' Amico risk classification was low, intermediate and high in 26 (14.1%), 45 (24.5%) and 113 (61.4%) patients, respectively. Mean surgical duration was 203.5 minutes and mean estimated blood loss was 437.6 ml. Nerve sparing (NS) was implemented in 82 (44. 6%) patients. The mean period of having an indwelling urethral catheter was 5. 0 days. Perioperative Clavien-Dindo degree > Ilia complications occurred in three (1.6%) patients. Except for cases with presurgical hormonal treatment, surgical margins were positive in 41 (22.3%) patients, among whom 23 (17.4%) had pT2 disease. The 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was 81.4%, and 84.8% of patients regained urinary continence at 12 months after surgery. Where the surgeon stood during L R P was not associated with significant differences in any parameter. However, the margin positive rate was higher on the side away from where the surgeon stood than the side closer to the surgeon (70.7% vs 29.3%). In conclusion, the position of the surgeon during L R P does not influence the outcome.