The Effects of Method of Anaesthesia on the Safety and Effectiveness of Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

All patients in the general anaesthesia group will be premedicated with intravenously administered (iv) midazolam (2mg) and fentanyl (100 mcg). Induction will be performed using intravenous propofol (2.5-3mg/kg) and lidocaine (40mg); dexamethasone 8mg, metoclopramide 10mg and omeprazole 40mg will also be administered. After successful tracheal intubation, total intravenous anaesthesia will be maintained by administering propofol (0.05 mg/kg/sec iv) and remifentanil (0.2 mcg/kg/sec iv). Pain management will be achieved by paracetamol (1g iv) and tramadol (100mg iv) whereas muscle relaxation by vecuronium (0.6 mg/kg iv).

Combined (epidural and spinal) anaesthesia will be performed using an epidural 18G needle and a spinal 27G needle, in the L2-L3 or L3-L4 interspace. Induction will be carried out by spinal intrathecal administration of levobupivacaine (2.6-3ml of 0.5%) and mild sedation by midazolam (5mg iv in bolus). All patients will be administered dexamethasone 8mg, metoclopramide 10mg and omeprazole 40mg iv. Maintenance will be performed 75 minutes after induction and obtained using an epidural administration of levobupivacaine (4-5ml of 0.5%).

All patients will undergo a nerve-sparing open retropubic radical prostatectomy