Anaesthetic Considerations in Patients with Carcinoma Prostate for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) is a commonly performed robotic surgery. The robotic surgeries have become increasingly popular due to numerous advantages such as decreased blood loss, smaller incision, less postoperative pain, faster recovery, shorter duration of hospital stay, lesser morbidity, and better postoperative outcomes. In addition, robots provide a magnified three-dimensional view along with tools which can duplicate the hand movements with a higher accuracy because of 7° of freedom. However, it is not without challenges. These could be an array of issues due to difficulties with patient positioning, reduced access to the patient, possibility of airway oedema, prolonged surgery, and pneumoperitoneum to name a few. A thorough knowledge of physiological changes along with their intraoperative impact on various organ systems is essential for the successful management of the patient. A careful perioperative evaluation and a good team work reduce the complications and improve the surgical outcomes. This chapter provides an overview of the perioperative challenges faced by an anaesthesiologist in robotic prostatectomy.