Radical retropubic prostatectomy: Preservation of urinary continence

Historical review of procedures and maneuvers described in the literature to preserve-increase urinary continence after retropubic prostatectomy.

Review of the original articles on the design of maneuvers for the preservation of urinary continence.

Numerous maneuvers have been described attempting to preserve-increase urinary continence after prostatectomy. They can be grouped into preservation of puboprostatic ligaments, bladder neck, striated sphincter or trigonal innervation, construction of a neourethra, suspension of the anastomosis or the dorsal venous complex and intussusception of the bladder neck.

There is no ideal maneuver for preserving-increasing urinary continence after retropubic prostatectomy, as there is no well-conducted work with any of these techniques that confirm their efficacy.