Preservation of the tip of the seminal vesicle does improve potency rates following radical prostatectomy

Material & Methods: Using the database of the European study on radical prostatectomy (653(DQG PHQ ZKR XQGHUZHQW UDGLFDO UHWURSXELF SURVWDWHFWRP\ EHWZHHQ DQGDWRWDORISDWLHQWVZHUHLGHQWLᚏHGZKRKDGXQGHUJRQHELODWHUDOQHUYHVSDULQJ and preservation of the tip of the seminal vesicle (GROUP 1). Potency and continence results were compared to a matched group of 1424 men who also underwent a bilateral nerve sparing procedure without preservation of the seminal vesicle tip during the same period (GROUP 2). Results: 2YHUDOOFRQWLQHQFHUDWHSDGDW\HDUZDVZLWKD&,&RQWLQHQFH WLPHNLQHWLFVDWPRDWPRDWPRDQGDWPR$ GLᚎHUHQFHZDVVHHQZKHQFRPSDULQJSK\VLFLDQDQGSDWLHQWJXLGHGTXHVWLRQQDLUHVZLWK respect to continence (physicians judging rates more favourably).A constant relative increase in Nerve-sparing (uni- and bilateral) procedures was observed with highest rates 1998-2000, and reaching a steady state thereafter (at 71,4% of all cases). Potency results and time kinetics in both groups are: Potency GROUP 1* GROUP 2 PR 8-15% 9-16% 6 mo 21-26% 12 mo 59-86% 49-71% ,Q*URXSDQGLQPHQ\HDUVRIDJHSRWHQF\UDWHVLQFUHDVHGWRDQG DWDQGPRUHVSHFWLYHO\1RVWDWLVWLFDOVLJQLᚏFDQWGLᚎHUHQFHVZHUHREVHUYHG with respect to margin status (p=0.002) and progression free survival rates (p=0.001) at a mean of 8 years follow up Conclusions: )XQFWLRQDOUHVXOWVRIUDGLFDOUHWURSXELFSURVWDWHFWRP\KDVVLJQLᚏFDQWO\HYROYHG over the past 12 years. Highest rates in potency (59-86%) were observed at 1 year post surgery in men with bilateral nerve sparing procedures. Preservation of the tip of the seminal YHVLFOHV VLJQLᚏFDQWO\ LQFUHDVHG SRVW ದ53( SRWHQF\ UDWHV ZLWKRXW MHRSDUGL]LQJ RQFRORJLFDO outcomes. 713 SUTURELESS VESICO-URETHRAL ANASTOMOSIS AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: INITIAL CLINICAL FEASIBILITY DATA FROM THE CONT