Safety and peri-operative outcomes during learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a multi-institutional study of fellowship-trained robotic surgeons versus experienced open radical prostatectomy surgeons incorporating robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Purpose: To analyze and compare the safety and peri-operative outcomes of fellowship-trained robotic surgeons (FEL) and experienced open surgeons (OE) incorporating robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) into practice.

Materials And Methods: Multiinstitutional, prospective data were collected on the first 30 RALP performed by FEL and OE (defined as over 1000 prostatectomies) incorporating RALP into practice. Morbidity from the peri-operative course was evaluated as were operative outcomes.