Managing urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy

New diagnoses of prostate cancer more than tripled between 1990 and 1996, largely because of improved methods of detection and heightened public awareness. Radical prostatectomy is often undertaken in men with prostate cancer who are expected to live at least 10 more years and have tumors confined to the prostate gland. Because of high 10-year survival rates, the demand for radical prostatectomy has increased steadily during the past decade and continues to climb as men pursue a cure and attempt to maximize survival. Survival benefits aside, however, radical prostatectomy carries a significant risk of urinary incontinence, which can dramatically impair quality of life. Despite medicine's steadfast pursuit of continence-preserving approaches to radical prostatectomy, nurses are currently challenged to provide care for a growing cohort of patients with postprostatectomy incontinence. This article reviews the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of postprostatectomy incontinence, including assessment and treatment options.