Utilization and impact of surgical technique on the performance of pelvic lymph node dissection at radical prostatectomy: Results from the SEARCH database.

73 Background: Performance of a pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) with radical prostatectomy (RP) is critical for staging and treatment of high-risk prostate cancer (PC). Conversely, performance of a PLND in low-risk PC contributes to morbidity with minimal benefit. Robot-assisted laparoscopic RP (RARP) is associated with decreased PLND use. We evaluated PLND use over time, stratified by PC risk group and surgical technique. Methods: We used SEARCH to identify men who had open RP (ORP) or RARP from 2006-2013 with complete data. Univariable logistic regression was used to test the association between age, race, BMI, number of positive cores, AUA risk group, year, center, and surgical technique on PLND use. Multivariable logistic analysis was used to examine surgical technique and PLND performance stratified by AUA risk-group. Spearman correlation was used to examine temporal changes in PLND utilization stratified by risk-group and surgical technique. Results: 1,439 men met inclusion criteria. Of these, 6...