Trial casts doubt on relative benefits of robotic prostate surgery

A world-first study has questioned the relative benefits of robotic keyhole surgery for prostate cancer. The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research 's Professor Robert 'Frank' Gardiner said the research found robotic surgery was no more effective than open surgery for urinary control, erectile function and cancer outcomes. He said the trial of robotic and open prostatectomy at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital examined outcomes for more than 300 Australian men for the 12 weeks after their surgery. "Contrary to common clinical belief, our research found no significant statistical differences between the robotic approach and open surgery at this early time-point," Professor Gardiner said. Prostatectomy is surgery to remove the prostate gland when cancer has been detected. Robot-assisted prostatectomy has been used over the past 16 years. "Surgery has long been the dominant approach for the treatment of localised prostate cancer, with many clinicians now recommending the robotic method to patients," Professor Gardiner said.