[Are the patients not carrying protections after radical prostatectomy really continent?].

AIM: To analyse urinary continence and related quality of life in patients not wearing any pad after robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

METHOD: Two hundred and sixteen patients operated consecutively by RARP between January 2009 and June 2011 were evaluated by the ICS (International Continence Society) Male Self-questionnaire. The questionnaires were sent by mail and mailed back by patients with a minimum of 14 months following surgery. The ICS questionnaire contains a symptom score (ICS 1) and a quality of life score (ICS 2).

RESULTS

Out of 216 sent questionnaires, 145 (67%) were received. The subgroup of 121 patients who replied that they were not wearing any pad was analysed. Fifty-three (43,8%) of them reported not having leakage when coughing or sneezing, 65 (53,7%) reported not having spontaneous leakage, and 102 (84,3%) reported not having leakage when sleeping. The ICS 1 and ICS 2 scores were strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.96).

CONCLUSION

Within a group of patients not wearing any pad following RARP, the continence as assessed by self-questionnaires remains altered. This analysis might help counselling patients who are about to choose a surgical treatment for their prostate cancer.