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A postal survey evaluation of prostatectomy
C M Castleden1, C W McGrother, C Jagger
1Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Leicester General Hospital.
Background:
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of urinary symptoms after prostatectomy, and the relationship between pre- and post-operative symptoms.
Methods:
A retrospective postal survey was carried out, on an unselected series of patients in Leicestershire, one to two years after transurethral resection. Four hundred and sixty-five men received a questionnaire, and of these 78 per cent responded.
Results:
The operation relieved 92 per cent of all preoperative urge-incontinence, but 3 per cent of those who were continent beforehand developed urge-incontinence. Urgency and hesitancy also responded well. Nocturia, frequency and dribbling were the least responsive. There was a general tendency for symptoms to persist rather than develop post-operatively.
Conclusions:
Prostatectomy is an effective intervention, particularly for cases with urge-incontinence, urgency, incontinence or hesitancy. These results are consistent with those of other, prospective, studies. Postal surveys may provide a cheap and effective method of evaluating local prostatectomy services.