Improving early urinary continence recovery after radical prostatectomy by applying a sutureless technique for maximal preservation of the intrapelvic urethra: A 17-year single-surgeon experience. Issue 4 (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simforoosh, Nasser; Dadpour, Mehdi; Mousapour, Pouria; Honarkar Ramezani, Mehdi
• Is Part Of: Urologia journal. Volume 87:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 178
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Early urinary continence -- radical prostatectomy -- sutureless vesico-urethral alignment -- functional outcome -- social well-being; Urology -- Periodicals; 616.6005
• DOI: 10.1177/0391560320925570
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0391-5603

Abstract

Background: There is a growing concern about postsurgical outcomes of radical prostatectomy, especially in the younger population and patients with earlier tumor stages. Here, we present our 17 years' experience of sutureless vesico-urethral alignment after radical prostatectomy with a focus on postoperative functional urinary outcomes. Methods: Data of 784 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy during 2001–2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Before surgery, patients' demographic information, pathologic stage, margin of surgery, prostate-specific antigen, and Gleason score were obtained. Then, serum prostate-specific antigen level, urinary continence, potency, and other functional outcomes of surgery were recorded after each postoperative visit. Results: The mean age (±standard deviation) of patients was 61.3 (±6.30) years. The median (IQ25–75 ) duration of follow-up was 30 (12–72) months. Full continence was achieved in 90% and 95.9% of patients at 3 and 6 months post surgery and 96.4% of the patients were continent at the last follow-up visit. Bladder neck stricture occurred in 167 patients (21.3%). During the follow-up period, none of the patients complained of total incontinence and at the last visit, 36.6% of patients reported potency. The frequency of grade 2 continence was significantly higher in patients with high-stage tumors (T3/T4), high Gleason score (⩾8), high preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen (>20 ng/dL), and positive margin of surgery. Potency had a significant relationship with age, stage of the disease, and preoperative prostate-specific antigen. Conclusion: Maximal sparing of intrapelvic urethral length through sutureless vesico-urethral alignment technique results in excellent early urinary continence recovery after radical prostatectomy. A more advanced tumor stage (T1/T2), a higher Gleason score, high preoperative prostate-specific antigen, as well as positive surgical margin are risk factors of postoperative incontinence in patients who undergo radical prostatectomy.