Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of open radical cystectomy (ORC) in relation to laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and incidence of postoperative recurrence.

Methods: A total of 90 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer admitted to our urology department from January 2019 to May 2022 were included in this study. Using the random number table, the patients were assigned equally to ORC and LRC groups. The perioperative data of the patients were collected and recorded. The outcome indicators comprised erythrocyte pressure and creatinine levels, blood gas analysis, type of urinary diversion, and histopathology of surgically removed tumors.

Results: Operation time of LRC was significantly longer than that of ORC, but other perioperative indices of LRC were better than those of ORC (p < 0.05). Hematocrit levels in LRC group were higher than those in ORC group at postoperative 1 day and before discharge (p < 0.05). However, creatinine levels were lower in LRC group than in ORC group at postoperative 1 day and before discharge (p < 0.05). Moreover, LRC resulted in better blood gas indices than ORC (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the type of urinary diversion and histopathological results from surgically removed tumor between the two groups (p > 0.05). Patients who received LRC had a lower incidence of complications than those given ORC (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: LRC reduced perioperative complications, decreased mean length of hospital stays, and enhanced recovery of gastrointestinal and renal functions. These data suggest that LRC is safer and more efficient than ORC. However, further studies are required prior to clinical application of this procedure.