Does the presence of robotic surgery affect demographics in patients choosing to undergo radical prostatectomy? A multi-center contemporary analysis

We report on differences in patient demographics in those men choosing to undergo radical prostatectomy in a UK center where there is no influence of robotic surgery and in those choosing radical prostatectomy in a US center where there is a strong robotic influence. Demographic and pathologic data were prospectively recorded in parallel for 78 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in a tertiary care academic US center and 69 consecutive men concurrently undergoing open radical prostatectomy in a similar UK center. Although average patient age was significantly younger in the US cohort (58.8 years, range 43.1–77.6 vs. 62.2 years, range 51.7–70.5; P = 0.002), the US cohort encompassed a wider age range and older patients than the UK cohort. Average preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was significantly lower in the US group (6.0, range 2.0–6.0 vs. 8.60, range 4.6–12.6; P < 0.01). Biopsy Gleason score, clinical stage, final pathology Gleason score, pathologic staging and positive margin rate were not significantly different between the two groups. Blood loss and transfusion rate were significantly lower in the US group. 16.7% of men in the US cohort had overall positive surgical margins compared to 29% in the UK group (P = 0.07). This data confirms our belief that patient age ranges are different in a setting influenced by robotic surgery. Although pathologic parameters were similar, the age distribution of robotic surgery patients was much wider, suggesting robotics attracts men previously reluctant to undergo surgery in the open setting or to pursue active surveillance protocols. Larger studies are needed to verify this finding.