A multicenter study analyzed surgical videos from 157 patients to investigate the influence of specific techniques during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy on a patient's ability to regain erectile function 1-year postsurgery. They found that a higher proportion of 'peel/push' gestures during the nerve-sparing step was associated with increased recovery rates, while certain actions like applying heat energy or using grasping gestures on the neurovascular bundle were linked to lower recovery rates. Younger age, smaller prostate volume, and full nerve preservation were also associated with higher recovery rates, while surgeon experience was not predictive of better outcomes. The study suggests that surgical performance and technical skill can help predict long-term patient outcomes.

Source: JAMA Surgery