Recent article compares the three operations

Could only access the abstract...but (no surprise) it's just another paper which concludes by saying: "Further high-quality, prospective, multicentre, comparative studies are needed."

There will never be the "randomized clinical trial" comparative study necessary to show any statistical differences in results between methods...who the heck would want to participate in having their surgery method "randomized"?? Not me.

So, the major take-away from this is simply the point that many of us experienced guys know, and a point we should continue to make with newcomers, that the experience of the surgeon is the most important factor, once the patient has chosen surgery as a treatment mode.

In the words of Dr. Eric Klein from Cleveland Clinic, who wasn't "selling" either method:

"The most important factor in ensuring the best chance for cure and good functional outcomes after radical prostatectomy is the experience of the surgeon and not what approach is used. My best advice is to find the most experienced surgeon you can and let him choose the surgical tools that work best in his hands."

John,

No suprise in the results of the first article you referenced.

I'm really surprised (and frankly a bit skeptical) about the results of the second article referenced. (When I say "skeptical", I mean there might be some catch in the description of "all prostate surgery" that would make that statistic more believable.) Nonetheless, I would estimate that only 20% of all surgeons who perform prostatectomies perform 80% of all prostatectomies...the ol' 80/20 rule.

regards...