Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the gold standard treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. Both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer are highly prevalent among elderly men and often coexist in the same patient population. As a result, some patients undergo transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to manage lower urinary tract symptoms before being diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, prior history of TURP can pose technical challenges during RARP due to capsular inflammation, fibrosis, and adhesions that distort the periprostatic tissue planes. This study aims to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients with and without prior TURP to evaluate its impact on surgical safety and efficacy.

Patients were retrospectively collected between January 2023 and March 2024. A total of 56 patients were included. 8 patients who underwent RARP had prior history of TURP. We compared patient characteristics, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, surgical margin status, nerve-sparing status and urinary continence rates. Continuous variables were assessed using Wilcoxon signed rank test, while categorical variables were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test. Statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 4.4.3), with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in baseline patient characteristics between the two groups. Perioperative parameters, such as operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, surgical margin status and urinary continence rates were also comparable between the two groups

This study found no significant differences in short-term perioperative outcomes of RARP between patients with and without prior TURP. These findings suggest that a history of TURP may not compromise surgical safety or efficacy. However, the study is limited by a small sample size, and further studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to validate these findings and assess potential long-term effects.