Wide excision (nonnerve sparing) radical retropubic prostatectomy using an initial perirectal dissection

Purpose: Positive surgical margin rates after radical retropubic prostatectomy are reported to range from 25 to 50% in contemporary series. We report on 53 nonnerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomies performed with attention paid to extending the margin of attached periprostatic tissue. This was accomplished primarily by initial perirectal release of periprostatic tissues at the level of longitudinal rectal fibers posterior and lateral to the prostate. This perirectal release ensures that maximal quantities of periprostatic tissue will remain with the prostate specimen and will not be attenuated or sheared away at subsequent stages of the procedure. Materials and Methods: Pathological material was examined for capsular penetration and surgical margins using transverse whole mount sections of the prostate at 4 to 5 mm. intervals. Patients were followed at regular intervals with physical examinations and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) determinations. Results: The series consisted of 6, 5, 14 and 28 cases of clinical stages T1b, Tie, T2a and T2b cancer, respectively. Mean PSA was 10.0 ng./ml. and mean Gleason score was 5.9. Capsular penetration was observed in 47 of 53 cases (89%) and positive surgical margins were noted in 7 (13%). With a median followup of 3.61 years 2 patients experienced PSA defined recurrence. Conclusions: We believe that positive surgical margin rates may be decreased when technical modifications are directed at increasing the amount of periprostatic tissue excised with the surgical specimen.