Background/Aims: To evaluate perioperative parameters, early functional outcomes, and the safety profile of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate learning curves with and without mentoring. Methods: The learning curves of 2 surgeons of their first 100 consecutive patients treated with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate were retrospectively analyzed. We analyzed demographic parameters, clinical outcomes, adverse events, and the progress during each learning experience. Results: The only statistically significant differences between the two learning curves were found for operation time (138.2 ± 60.7 vs. 98.2 ± 37.7 min; p < 0.001) in favor of the supervised approach, the total weight of resected prostatic tissue (81.5 ± 50.5 vs. 65.0 ± 6.7 g; p < 0.001) with more tissue removal by the surgeon without guidance, and the perioperative hemoglobin drop (1.9 ± 1.4 vs. 1.1 ± 1.0 g/dl; p < 0.001) in favor of the learning curve with a training programme. In multivariate logistic regression, the time factor was independently associated with a higher drop in hemoglobin levels (OR 1.015; 95% CI 1.000-1.023; p = 0.001). The improvements of clinical outcomes as determined by International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, peak urinary flow rate and postvoid residual volume were comparable. After the first 50 procedures the mean operation time significantly improved from 147 to 107.5 minutes for the learning curve without supervision (p < 0.001), whereas the surgical time was consistent throughout the 100 cases with a mentoring programme. The overall incidence of treatment-related adverse events was significantly higher without the training programme (16 vs. 5%; p = 0.008). Conclusions: Our study clearly showed the benefits of a structured training programme to overcome the steep learning curve.

Modern risk stratification of prostate cancer (PCa) allows for prediction of advanced disease with a high level of certainty. We aimed to evaluate a prospective series of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy without prior biopsy based solely on clinical criteria and imaging results. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 27 patients with: (i) suspicious digital rectal examination, (ii) PSA ≥ 10 ng/mL, (iii) PI-RADS 4/5 on mpMRI, and (iv) high suspicion of PCa on PSMA-PET. Group 2 included six patients who fulfilled criteria i, ii, and iii but did not undergo PSMA-PET imaging. Group 3 included 17 patients with at least one clinical (i or ii) and one imaging (iii or iv) criterion. All of the patients were diagnosed with PCa. Comparison of Group 1 and 2 versus Group 3 showed a significantly higher ratio of locally advanced PCa for Groups 1 and 2 compared to Group 3 (60.6% versus 11.8%, p = 0.005, respectively). Similarly, these patients displayed a significantly higher ratio of aggressive PCa (ISUP grade > 2: 66.7% versus 23.5%, p = 0.027, respectively) and tumor infiltration (median tumor infiltration: 32.5% vs. 15%, p = 0.001, respectively) in the final specimen compared to Group 3. In conclusion, we have shown that radical prostatectomy without prior biopsy is safe in terms of the diagnosis of clinically significant PCa when proper preoperative risk stratification involving mpMRI and PSMA-PET imaging is applied.

Purpose: Introduction of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa). However, comparative analyses focused on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after RARP and open retropubic prostatectomy (ORP) are sparse. Methods: In the current retrospective analysis,inclusion criteria encompassed PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml, ≤ pT2c, ISUP ≤ 3, age ≤ 65 years, and preoperative continence. A propensity score-matched patient cohort [n = 418 (ORP: 209, RARP: 209)] was created and HRQOL was prospectively assessed based on validated questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30) preoperatively, 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperatively. Primary endpoint was good general HRQOL based on previously published cut-off values. Erectile function was measured via IIEF-5, urinary continence via ICIQ-SF questionnaire. Multivariable analysis included binary logistic regression models (p < 0.05). Results: Open retropubic prostatectomy and RARP cohorts were well balanced. General HRQOL was significantly higher for ORP compared to RARP after 3 months (70.1 vs. 61.6, p = 0.001), but not at the remaining follow-up time points. There were no significant differences for the remaining QLQ-C30 functioning and symptom scores. In multivariable analysis stratified for IIEF-5 and ICIQ-SF scores and surgeon experience, RARP could be confirmed as a marginally independent predictor for lower ratios of good general HRQOL after 3 months (OR 0.464, 95% CI 0.215–0.999; p = 0.050) without any differences at the remaining time points. Conclusions: The current study addresses various HRQOL outcomes over a postoperative period of up to 2 years in a homogenous propensity score-matched contemporary cohort. Marginally better general HRQOL outcomes could be detected for ORP compared to RARP 3 months postoperatively.