Background Due to the usage of various measurement methods and definitions, comparing continence rates after radical prostatectomy is a challenging task. This study compares continence rates based on different methods and aims to identify the definition for continence which agrees best with the patients’ subjective assessment of continence. Additionally, continence was controlled for multiple influencing factors. Methods This prospective multicentre study was carried out in seven hospitals throughout Germany. Before and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery self-reporting questionnaires were completed and returned by 329 (84.4%) of 390 eligible patients. The questionnaires were independently evaluated and analysed by a third party. Association of continence with demographic, operative, and tumour factors in an ongoing comprehensive prostate cancer database was evaluated. Results The continence rate drops substantially for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy but increases again with time. Concrete numbers vary considerably depending on definition – 44% at 3 months and 68% at 12 months after surgery (0 pads) vs. 71 and 90% (0–1 pads). Significant confounding variables regarding continence rate are nerve-sparing procedure, categorized Gleason score, rehabilitative cure treatment, and pelvic floor training. The definition of 0 pads for continence coincides greater than 0–1 pads with the patients’ self-assessment of being continent. Conclusion A standardized definition for continence would be desirable, as it is one of the most important preconditions to guarantee sound comparison of continence rates. Since there are enough other factors that make comparison difficult, we suggest using the definition of “0 pads”. It is easily measured objectively, leaves no room for interpretation, and agrees best with the patients’ self-assessment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12894-019-0500-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The core question of the study was whether the nerve-sparing status and surgical approach affected the patients' sexual life in the first year after surgery. In addition, determinants of erectile function (EF) and the extent of sexual activity were investigated. We conducted a multicentric, longitudinal study in seven German hospitals before, 3, 6 and 12 months after radical prostatectomy (RP). A total of 329 patients were asked to self-assess the symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). These symptoms were assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function and EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaires. A multiple regression model was used to test the influence of clinical, socio-demographic and quality-of-life-associated variables on the patients' EF 1 year after RP. Before surgery, 39% of patients had a severe ED (complete impotence). At 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, it was 80, 79 and 71%, respectively. Although the surgical approach had no significant effect on EF, patients who had undergone nerve-sparing surgery had significantly lower ED rates. Nevertheless, 1 year after RP, 66% of these patients had severe ED. Age, nerve-sparing status and the burden of urinary symptoms had the greatest impact on the patients' EF. Regardless of nerve-sparing status and surgical approach, postsurgical improvement of EF does not mean a full convalescence of presurgical EF. Instead, it may rather reduce the degree of postsurgical ED in time. Consequently, urologists should disclose to the patient that ED is a likely side effect of RP. INTRODUCTIONIn many Western countries, prostate cancer has become the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the male population. In Germany, the current incidence is about 60 000 cases per year. 1 Since the introduction of prostate cancer screening, prostate cancer-specific incidence rates have doubled from approx. 50 per 100 000 in 1980 to approx. 100 in 2006. 2 Moreover, there has been a trend towards earlier-stage disease at presentation. 3,4 If detected in a localised state, the most common treatment for prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy (RP). RP can be performed in several ways. The classical approach is open retropubic prostatectomy. Furthermore, RP can be performed in a minimalinvasive laparoscopic way. Both surgical approaches have excellent survival outcomes. In Germany, the 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is between 83 and 94%. 1 However, there are also strong side effects of RP, for example, erectile dysfunction (ED). 5 Depending on the surgical technique, patient age and other sociodemographic and clinical factors, ED rates differ a lot. Even 1 year after RP, ED occurs in about 12--83% of patients. 5--8 The current study is the first prospective multicentre study to compare the functional results of patients who underwent either radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRPE) or endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE). In this paper, we report data related to the patients' sexual life before (t baseline ), 3 months (t 3m ), 6 months (t 6...

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