LAPAROSCOPIC PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY IN PR OSTATE-CANCER - RESULTS IN 120 PATIENTS

Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 120 patient s scheduled to undergo either radical perineal prostatectomy or radiat ion therapy. On average 13 lymph nodes were resected in each patient, and 21 patients were found to have metastatic disease in 1-9 lymph nod es. After an initial learning curve, mean operative time was reduced s ignificantly, allowing laparoscopic lymph node dissection and radical prostatectomy to be performed as a one-stage procedure. The overall co mplication rate was 10%; open revisions were necessary in only 2 of 12 0 patients. Postoperative hospital stay was 2 days in patients undergo ing laparoscopic lymph node dissection only. This minimally invasive p rocedure is particularly beneficial to patients with lymph node metast ases not undergoing radical prostatectomy, as well as to patients plan ned to be treated by radiation therapy. The combination of laparoscopi c lymph node dissection and radical perineal prostatectomy avoids an a bdominal incision and thus shortens both the hospital stay and the per iod of convalescence.