Functional outcomes and oncological efficacy of Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing: An analysis of 154 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVES: To report updated results, at 1 year of follow-up, of a modified nerve-sparing robotic radical prostatectomy that preserves the lateral prostatic fascia (Veil of Aphrodite). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January to December 2003, 154 consecutive men had a Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy with Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing by one surgeon. A prospective database recorded patient demographics, intraoperative, peri-operative, and pathological variables. Peri-operative complications were recorded using the Clavien classification. Patients had serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels measured every 3 months and self-administered the International Prostate Symptom Score and Sexual Health Inventory for Male questionnaires before and at 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: The men had a mean age of 57.4 years, a mean body mass index of 27.2 kg/m², and a mean PSA level before surgery of 5.11 ng/mL. The mean operative duration was 122 min. At 1 year, 96% of the men reported having had intercourse and 71% had recovered normal erectile function. One man had a Clavien grade II complication, 4.6% of men with organ-confined disease had positive surgical margins, and no patient had a PSA recurrence at 12 months; 97% of the men were continent at 1 year, and the median time to continence was 14 days. CONCLUSION: Veil of Aphrodite nerve-sparing surgery provides better recovery of sexual function at 1 year than in contemporary series from centres of excellence, without compromising cancer control and urinary function.