Rehabilitation Therapy and Urinary Incontinence after Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the efficacy and evidence-based data in the literature about rehabilitation therapy in patients with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods: An analysis of published full-length papers identified by a Medline search from 1990 through 2004 was carried out. Abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals in the same period of time were also considered. Results: Efficacy, tolerability and safety of rehabilitation therapy were evaluated, according to the available data in the literature, with special regard to randomized controlled trials in order to define a clear-cut, evidence-based efficacy of this form of therapy. Conclusions: Rehabilitation therapy is a simple and safe way of managing post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Nonetheless, few randomized controlled studies have been carried out so far to establish its evidence-based efficacy and it is thus not possible to be scientifically sure of its value. It is therefore necessary to undertake well-designed randomized controlled studies, with a large number of patients, a well-matched control group and an adequate follow-up.

How Urologists Manage Erectile Dysfunction after Radical Prostatectomy: A National Survey (REPAIR) by the French Urological Association

“…Only 76% of the French urologists assessed erectile function before performing RP, and yet the most important predictor of post‐surgery ED is preexisting erectile function [2–11]. ED may preexist in a substantial number of cases, even in younger patients.…”

“…A number of studies have addressed functional outcomes after RP, whether urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is considered to be of particular concern and has been the subject of several topical reviews [2–6]. Large patient cohorts have been monitored for long follow‐up periods [7–11].…”

Comparison of a 20-Min Pad Test with the 1-Hour Pad Test of the International Continence Society to Evaluate Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence

“…anticholinergics) and physiotherapeutic approaches (e.g. pelvic floor muscle training, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, lifestyle adjustment) are used to improve postoperative continence, partly with excellent results [4][5][6] . In times of increasing financial distress in general healthcare systems, a cost-effective and time-saving tool to exactly evaluate incontinence as well as the therapeutic success of different approaches is truly needed.…”

Der Patient nach radikaler Prostatektomie

“…Die Mehrzahl der wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen und Übersichtsarbei-ten zur Rehabilitation von Patienten nach Therapie eines Prostatakarzinoms sind auf die Aspekte der postoperativen Belastungsharninkontinenz und der operativ bedingten erektilen Dysfunktion fokussiert [2,3,4,5,6]. Aufgrund der wachsenden medizinischen, sozialen und öko-nomischen Bedeutung des Prostatakarzinoms für Medizin und Gesellschaft sollte jedoch ein breiter rehabilitativer Ansatz gewählt werden.…”