Authors' recommendations: • Laparoscopic prostatectomy is associated with less blood loss and a shorter length of hospital stay than open surgery but the evidence shows no difference in cancer outcomes, functional outcomes or overall complications. • Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is associated with less blood loss, shorter length of stay and better functional outcomes than open surgery but the evidence on cancer outcomes and complications is inconsistent. • Evidence comparing laparoscopic surgery with robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is inconsistent for blood loss, length of stay and cancer and functional outcomes, and shows no difference in overall complication rates. • A cost utility analysis suggested that robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is cost effective compared with open surgery. Another cost utility analysis suggested that robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is cost effective compared with laparoscopic surgery provided that the number of procedures is >150 per robot per year. Both results were associated with considerable uncertainty.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/technologies_and_medicines/shtg_-_evidence_notes/evidence_note_49.aspx

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Scotland, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: Scottish Health Technologies Group

Contact Address: Scottish Health Technologies Group, Delta House, 50 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G1 2NP Tel: 0141 225 6998

Contact Name: his.shtg@nhs.scot

Contact Email: his.shtg@nhs.scot

Copyright: Healthcare Improvement Scotland