Robotic radical prostatectomy with the "Veil of Aphrodite" technique: histologic evidence of enhanced nerve sparing.
OBJECTIVE: We have recently described a modification (Veil of Aphrodite) designed to preserve the lateral prostatic fascia (LPF) during robotic prostatectomy. Here, we histologically compare the Veil of Aphrodite technique (VT) and standard nerve-sparing technique (ST). METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive prostatectomies performed by a single surgeon were processed by the whole-mount method. The right and left anterolateral (AL) zones of each prostate were independently evaluated for LPF, plane of excision, capsular incision/margin status, margin clearance, and quantitative analysis of periprostatic nerve bundles using S100 immunostain. RESULTS: There were 42 AL zones with ST and 30 with VT. In all 42 ST zones, the plane of excision was outside the prostate and a rim of LPF was present. The mean margin clearance was 1.4 mm (0.6-2.8 mm) and the mean nerve bundle count was 10 (3-19). Capsular incision and margin status were negative in all 42. For VT, 24 of 30 zones lacked LPF and the plane of excision ran just by the prostatic edge. The mean margin clearance was 0.3 mm (0-1.7 mm) and the mean nerve bundle count was two (0-11). Two VT AL zones revealed capsular incision; the margin was negative for tumour in all 30. Differences in the margin clearances and nerve bundle counts between ST and VT were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The LPF contains nerve bundles that run along the surface of the AL zones. The VT is a safe procedure that effectively preserves the LPF and appears to provide enhanced nerve sparing as compared to the ST.