Patient-reported urinary continence (third-party interview): results of post-radical retropubic prostatectomy in...

To determine the patient-reported urinary continence rate after retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) for prostate carcinoma through a third-party interview and to grade the severity of incontinence.

Between 1997 and 1999, 34 patients were evaluated through an independent third party about the degree of continence as well as the quality of life after RRP. Patients were interviewed either in person or over the telephone. Urinary continence was defined as wearing no diapers, pads or tissue paper.

Of the 34 patients, 44% achieved immediate continence. Urinary incontinence gradually improved with time after surgery and 82% (n = 28) were fully continent at 12 months. Using the quality-of-life index, 91% of patients characterized their urinary incontinence as not or minimally bothersome. There was no significant difference between urologist- and patient-reported continence rates after RRP.

Based on our grading system, urinary continence gradually improved with time and was 82% at 1 year.