A new technique for treatment of simple post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence: preliminary experience

Because of the complexity of reconstructive surgical techniques, the high failure rate and cost of the devices used, as well as the associated mechanical malfunctions there is need for an alternative operation to treat post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. We present a new procedure along with promising results in cases of simple post-prostatectomy incontinence after transurethral resection of the prostate or open prostatectomy.

The principles of our technique include lysis of the pelvic urethra with preservation of the neurovascular bundle, as well as suspension of the prostatic capsule to the anterior abdominal wall. With this technique we corrected post-prostatectomy sphincteric incompetence in 21 patients. Preoperative evaluation included physical examination, excretory urography, ascending urethrocystography and urethrocystoscopy. Urodynamic investigations included uroflowmetry, cystometrography and urethral pressure profilometry. The patients were reevaluated radiologically and urodynamically 3 months postoperatively. Mean followup was 19 months.

All patients tolerated the procedure well. Few intraoperative and postoperative complications were encountered. The success rate was 81% and these 17 patients became continent day and night.

Our procedure combines the continence enhancing features of pelvic urethral elongation, urethral suspension, angulation of the prostatomembranous junction and prostatic fixation. The preliminary success rate of this technique is encouraging. However, larger numbers of patients and long-term followup are needed to confirm our findings.