Predictors of Long-Term Urinary Incontinence After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Urinary incontinence is a major complication after radical prostatectomy. We analyzed the predictors of urinary incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

One hundred twenty-one patients, whose urinary continence status was evaluable at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, were included from October 2016 to September 2021. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records. The continence status was evaluated by interviewing the patients about the number of urinary pads used per day. We compared the patients' age, body mass index, prostate volume, membranous urethral length on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, surgeon experience, and pathological findings between patients with and without regained continence at 12 months after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

The urinary continence rates were 30%, 57.8% and 79.3% at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively, after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Twelve months after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, 96 patients had regained continence and did not require urinary pads, whereas 25 patients had persistent urinary incontinence and required urinary pads. Membranous urethral length and surgeon experience were significantly different between patients with and without regained continence at 12 months after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (P=0.05). However, no significant differences existed in age, body mass index, prostate volume, and pathological findings between patients with and without regained continence at 12 months after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Membranous urethral length and surgeon experience are predictors of urinary incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Measuring the membranous urethral length is recommended before performing the operation.