title: Prospective patient-reported continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a prospective study using confidential patient-completed questionnaires about their urinary habits before and after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Published reports on urinary continence after radical prostatectomy vary depending on the definitions of urinary continence and methods of data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1998 to February 2000, 228 men underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. The patients were given questionnaires before surgery and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery, no patient reported incontinence. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, perfect diurnal urinary control (no pads, no leakage at all) was reported in 9.9%, 28.6%, 57.4%, and 56.8% of patients, respectively. No pads were used in 18.8%, 58.4%, 68.9%, and 78.4% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. No patient reported use of more than 1 pad daily at 6 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is comparable to the results after traditional radical retropubic prostatectomy. Ongoing use of the laparoscopic route for treating clinically localized prostate cancer is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Urologie, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoznek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cicco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saint
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chopin
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Abbou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*