Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

This prospective, interventional, open-label, phase 3 randomized study evaluates a multimodal analgesia discharge pathway to reduce automatic opioid prescribing following routine robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Patients are counseled on post-operative pain management and then may opt into or out of the study with randomization to discharge prescriptions including (A) multimodal plan with additional automatic opioid prescription or (B) multimodal plan alone and instruction to call phone line to request opioid prescription if pain management is insufficient. Additionally, a cohort of historical controls prior to implementation of the study is also prospectively assessed as a pre-study baseline. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes include bowel function recovery, unplanned care encounters including emergency department visits or postoperative phone calls, and same-day discharge rates.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the steep Trendelenburg position in robotic prostatectomy cases, where anesthesia depth is monitored using BIS and cerebral perfusion is tracked with NIRS, and to determine the incidence of neurocognitive dysfunction using the MoCA test in the postoperative period. Steep Trendelenburg position and CO₂ pneumoperitoneum during robotic radical prostatectomy lead to significant changes in intracranial pressure and cerebral oxygenation, which may contribute to postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction (POCD). Monitoring anesthesia depth with Bispectral Index (BIS) and cerebral perfusion with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) may help detect early neurocognitive changes, and MoCA test assessments will reveal a measurable decline in cognitive function postoperatively.