ABSTRACT
Introduction Since its initial description by Walsh, anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has become the gold standard to which all other therapies for localized prostate cancer are compared. The first surgical procedure to provide definitive therapy with acceptably low rates of morbidity, RRP has transformed prostate cancer treatment paradigms and galvanized basic science research by making available for study previously unprecedented amounts of prostate tissue. In this chapter, the evolution, preoperative evaluation, surgical technique, and postoperative management of RRP for treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer are discussed.
