Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40336044›Full record

SynthesisBMC urology2025

Does the surgeon's learning curve impact pentafecta outcomes in radical prostatectomy? a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jose Arnaldo Shiomi Da Cruz, Breno Cordeiro Porto, Bruno Damico Terada, Felipe Giraldo Alvarez Gonçalves, Soraya Hussein Orra, Juan Victor Nabhan Martinez, Carlo Camargo Passerotti, Rodrigo A S Sardenberg, Kenneth Nunes Tavares De Almeida, Everson Luiz De Almeida Artifon and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC urology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Jose Arnaldo Shiomi Da CruzSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. arnaldoshiomi@yahoo.com.br.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4203-3196
Breno Cordeiro PortoSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4004-4089
Bruno Damico TeradaSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-3962-8951
Felipe Giraldo Alvarez GonçalvesSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3931-9196
Soraya Hussein OrraSurgery Department, Ninth of July University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0136-8432
Juan Victor Nabhan MartinezSurgery Department, Ninth of July University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-0609-5799
Carlo Camargo PasserottiSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3023-6797
Rodrigo A S SardenbergInternational Teaching and Research Institute - Hapvida NotreDame Intermédica, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6010-1829
Kenneth Nunes Tavares De AlmeidaInternational Teaching and Research Institute - Hapvida NotreDame Intermédica, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2268-0329
Everson Luiz De Almeida ArtifonSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1900-8777
Jose Pinhata OtochSurgical Technique and Experimental Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8293-1508

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRadical prostatectomy is a key treatment for prostate cancer. However, the impact of the learning curve of the surgeon has on the pentafecta is unclear. This meta-analysis aims to determine the impact of a procedure being performed in the initial learning curve has on the surgical results. MATERIALS AND

methodsA systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted up to March 2024, focusing on learning curves in prostatectomy. Primary outcome was biochemical recurrence rate (BCR); secondary outcomes included positive surgical margin (PSM) rate, continence, potency, operative time, blood loss, and complications (Clavien-Dindo classification). Bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool, and statistical analysis was done via Review Manager 5.4.

resultsSixteen studies with 21,851 patients were included. No significant difference in BCR rates was found between initial and advanced learning curves (OR1.44;95%CI0.97,2.13;p = 0.07;I²=74%). No significant difference in continence rates was also observed. (RD-0.05;95CI-0.10,0.01;p = 0.08;I²=86%). However, advanced learning curves showed lower PSM rates (OR1.61;95%CI1.19,2.17;p = 0.002;I²=88%), higher potency, less blood loss, shorter operative time, and fewer complications. Although randomized trials are unlikely in this context, further high-quality prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

conclusionThis meta-analysis highlights that achieving favorable outcomes in key pentafecta parameters-particularly potency, continence, and complication rates-increases with surgical experience. These findings emphasize the value of structured mentorship and establishing surgical volume benchmarks in training programs. Our analysis suggests that reaching a threshold of 100 cases may be necessary to consistently attain optimal functional and perioperative results.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceLearning CurveProstatectomyProstatic NeoplasmsSurgeonsHumansMaleTreatment OutcomelaparoscopyLearning curveMeta-analysisProstatectomyRobotic surgical procedures

Identifiers

PMID40336044
PMCPMC12060569

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.