Address of Corresponding Author

Urol Int 2005;74:38-43 (DOI: 10.1159/000082707)

  Key Words

• Prostate cancer
• Radical prostatectomy
• Pelvic muscle exercise
• Incontinence, prostatectomy
• Physiotherapy, radical prostatectomy

  Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy is a significant clinical problem. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of early-onset pelvic floor reeducation (EPFR) as compared with later-onset pelvic floor reeducation (LPFR) in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy. Patients and Methods: The continence status of 132 consecutive patients who underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer was assessed 1 year later by a standardized questionnaire. Fifty-eight patients started EPFR 7 days after surgery. Fifty-five patients attended LPFR 4 weeks after surgery. Forty-six patients received no pelvic floor retraining, 28 attended LPFR without EPFR, 27 patients received EPFR and LPFR, and 31 patients attended EPFR without LPFR. Results: Overall, 87 men were continent, 37 patients felt moderately incontinent, and 8 men suffered from severe incontinence. We could not observe a statistically significant influence of any kind of pelvic floor reeducation on continence status, time to continence, frequency or volume of urine loss, or the use of pads. Conclusion: A routine prophylactic use of combined EPFR and LPFR in all patients does not seem to be justified.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Jürgen Pannek, MD, PhD
Urologische Klinik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Marienhospital Herne, Widumer Strasse 8, DE-44627 Herne (Germany)
Tel. +49 2323 499 2391, Fax +49 2323 499 2393
E-Mail juergen.pannek@marienhospital-herne.de

  Article Information

Received: March 25, 2004
Accepted after revision: July 14, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 16