Perioperative adverse events and functional outcomes following open and robot-assisted prostatectomy in patients over age 70

Aim To evaluate the safety (perioperative adverse events) of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and functional outcomes (continence and erectile dysfunction) of open and robotic radical prostatectomy in elderly patients. Methods The data of patients (>= 70 years old) who underwent open retropubic radical prostatectomy (ORRP) and RARP within the period from November 2014 to February 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The perioperative adverse events and the functional outcomes of both surgical approaches were evaluated. Results A total of 149 men (59.3%) underwent ORRP, and 102 men (41.7%) underwent RARP. The mean age in the ORRP group was 73.6 +/- 3.2 years, and that in the RARP group was 74.7 +/- 4.1 years. The rate of grade 3 or higher (major) complications for the ORRP group was 4.7% (7 out of 149), and that for the RARP group was 4.9% (5 out of 102). The 24 months full continence and potency rates of the ORRP and RARP groups were 78.5% vs 79.4% and 21.8% vs 22.6%, respectively. Conclusion The perioperative adverse events are similar in elderly patients undergoing ORRP and in RARP. The continence rates are favourable and reasonable, although the potency rates are low in elderly men who underwent prostatectomy. The results of the present study may be useful for surgeons in their decision making and counselling of elderly patients.