title: Patient-reported complications after cryoablation therapy for prostate cancer.
abstract: To define the patient-reported complications after cryoablation therapy for prostate cancer and to compare these results to previously published patient-reported complications for radical prostatectomy and external beam irradiation. A questionnaire similar to previously published patient-reported complication studies was sent to the first 290 patients treated by cryoablation therapy at our Institution. The questionnaire was returned by 267 patients. Forty-four patients were excluded from analysis because of prior irradiation, transurethral prostatectomy, or cryoablation, resulting in a study group of 223 patients. Of the 208 patients with good urinary control preoperatively, 9 (4.3%) patients used incontinence pads after cryoablation. Seven of the 8 patients who used one pad daily reported leakage of only a few drops. Impotency, defined as an inability to obtain erections adequate for vaginal penetration, occurred in 85% of men who were potent preoperatively. Urethrorectal fistula occurred in 1 patient (0.4%). Bladder outlet obstruction caused by stricture of sloughed necrotic prostatic tissue required dilation or transurethral resection in 10% of patients. Scrotal swelling, penile tingling, and pelvic pain occurred in 18, 15, and 12% of patients, respectively; typically, these resolved spontaneously within 3 months. Patient-reported complications for cryoblation compared favorably to those reported for radical prostatectomy and external beam irradiation. Patient satisfaction was high; 96% of patients reported that they would choose cryosurgery as a treatment option again.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery (Division of Urology) and Radiology, Crittenton Hospital, Rochester Hill, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Badalament
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bahn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bahn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires