BackgroundThe objective of this study was to assess the effects of 25-degree and 30-degree Trendelenburg positions on intraocular pressure (IOP) changes during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).Materials and methodsThis prospective study involved a total of 30 consecutive patients undergoing RARP. All participants were randomly divided into two groups: Trendelenburg position with the head down at 25 degrees or 30 degrees. In addition to representative operative outcomes, IOP was measured at six discrete time points; Time 1 (T1): before induction of general anesthesia, patients in a horizontal supine position; T2: after induction of general anesthesia, patients in a horizontal supine position; T3: 1 hour after adopting the Trendelenburg position; T4: 2 hours after adopting the Trendelenburg position; T5: after pneumoperitoneum resolution in the Trendelenburg position; T6: anesthetized before awakening in a supine position.ResultsThe total and console operative times, estimated blood loss, and intravenous fluid intake during RARP did not significantly differ between the two groups. While the IOP values measured at the same time points were similar between the two groups, the 25-degree Trendelenburg position significantly attenuated the IOP change from T1 to T3, T4, and T5 compared with those at 30 degrees.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that RARP in the 25-degree Trendelenburg position may reduce the risks of position-related ophthalmic complications without increasing the difficulty of the surgical procedure.

BackgroundThis study was conducted to assess the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for elderly Japanese (aged ≥ 70 years) patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa).MethodsFrom April 2012 to March 2016, a total of 302 consecutive patients with clinically localized PCa underwent RARP at our institute. In this series, 109 (36.1%) and 193 (63.9%) of the patients were divided into older (aged ≥ 70 years) and younger (aged <70 years) groups, respectively. The correlation between the categorized patient age and various clinicopathological factors, including preoperative characteristics, perioperative outcome, and urinary continence outcome after RARP, was retrospectively analyzed.ResultsExcept for age and Gleason score at biopsy, there was no difference in the preoperative features between the two groups. A nonnerve-sparing RARP was performed more often in the younger group; however, other perioperative variables in the elderly group were comparable to those in the younger group. Similarly, the urinary continence rates at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the surgery were equally favorable in the younger and older groups.ConclusionRARP may be a reasonable therapeutic option for elderly patients with PCa and provides comparable perioperative and functional outcomes to those in younger patients.