title: A review of the anatomy of the male continence mechanism and the cause of urinary incontinence after prostatectomy.
abstract: Radical prostatectomy was first described by Dr. Hugh Hampton Young in 1905 as a treatment for prostate cancer. Since that time, urinary incontinence has been reported as a significant postsurgical problem. With the expanding interest in continence therapy and an increase in the number of men undergoing prostate cancer surgery, there is a concomitant need for detailed consideration of the cause of postprostatectomy incontinence. Urinary leakage after radical prostatectomy is not, as traditionally thought, a simple case of stress urinary incontinence. Instead, it represents a complex, multifactorial problem that continues to challenge practitioners and researchers alike. An overview of the anatomy of the male continence mechanism is provided, followed by a discussion of the cause and risk factors implicated in postprostatectomy incontinence and suggestions for further research.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014563:Urodynamics