ABSTRACT
Surgical Technique 44
Patient Selection, Preoperative Preparation 44
Patient Positioning, Access Creation 44
Posterior Dissection 46
Dissection of Retzius Space 47
Ligature of the Dorsal Venous Complex 48
Transection of the Bladder Neck 49
Apical Dissection 50
Section of the Lateral Pedicles 50
Vesicourethral Reconstruction 52
Specimen Extraction and Closure 54
Postoperative Care 54
Complications 54
Technical Variants 55
Published Series 56
Oncologic Results 57
Oncologic Concerns 57
References 59
Laparoscopy has become an integral part of urologic surgery. Its indications have
been progressively extended to the most advanced oncologic and reconstructive
procedures. Within this frame, radical prostatectomy is of major interest consid-
ering the incidence and clinical significance of prostate cancer. The procedure
comprises several steps of challenging dissection where the preservation of deli-
cate nerve and muscular structures should be conciliated with safe tumor excision.
The intervention ends with vesicourethral anastomosis, which is considered the
most difficult reconstructive procedure in urologic laparoscopy.
