[Urinary continence after radial prostatectomy. Prognostic factors and recovery time]

To assess the urinary continence after radical prostatectomy and its evolution over time. To analyse possible prognosis factors.

We have reviewed 101 patients that have undergone radical prostatectomy. We define "continent patient" as that one who doesn't require any type of urinary protection. By means of Kaplan-Meier method, we evaluate the recovery of continence along time. We analyze potential conditional factors (age, stage, surgery technique, surgery experience,...). The statistical tools used are: chi-square, Fisher, Cox regression, T-test and Kaplan-Meier.

Median monitoring time: 27.33 months. 80% are continent patients, 48.7% of which reach maximum continence before the 3rd, month is due and 17.5% after the 6 months (2.5% between 9-12 months). Their probability of becoming "continents" during the first 4 months es 0.4692. patients under 70 years old recover continence before those who are over 70 years old (medians: 3.51 months and 5.67 months respectively, p = 0.0211).

The recovery of continence takes place progressively and a 17.5% of patients reach plain recovery in the 6-12 months period after surgery. The evaluation of the surgery treatment to correct incontinence should consider the possibility of "spontaneous" recovery in a 2.5% of patients in the 9-12 months period after surgery. Age affects negatively the recovery time; it is significantly less for patients under 70.