Prospective Comparison Between the AirSeal® System Valve-Less Trocar and a Standard Versaport™ Plus V2 Trocar in Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract

Background and Purpose: To prospectively compare the AirSeal^® System valve-less Trocar with a standard Versaport™ Plus V2 Trocar as assistant insufflating port in transperitoneal and extraperitoneal robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (t-RARP/e-RARP). Patients and Methods: Two consecutive cohorts of patients undergoing RARP using either a 12 mm AirSeal valve-less Trocar (n=19 [14 t-RARP/5 e-RARP]) or a 12 mm Versaport Plus V2 Trocar (n=17 [11 t-RARP/6 e-RARP]) were prospectively evaluated. Age, body mass index, tumor characteristics, and surgical approach were similar in both cohorts. Besides relevant clinical data, episodes of pressure loss (2) consumption were recorded and compared. Results: Mean surgical time was 175 minutes in the AirSeal and 166 minutes in the Versaport group (p=0.55). Whereas in the AirSeal group, only one episode of pressure loss pp2 consumption were observed for the present study. Patient CO₂ absorption was not evaluated. Conclusions: In the present study, the AirSeal Trocar offered a more stable pneumocavity and facilitated specimen retrieval and needle extraction.