Intussusception of the bladder neck does not promote early restoration to urinary continence after non-nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether buttressing sutures, which prevent the bladder neck from pulling open as the bladder fills, can promote earlier recovery from urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and to identify possible risk factors associated with urinary incontinence after RRP.


METHODS
The present study included 72 patients who underwent non-nerve-sparing RRP without neoadjuvant therapy between January and December 2003. Among these 72 patients, intussusception of the bladder neck was performed in 24 who consented to this procedure. In the present series, continence was defined as the absence of any need to use sanitary pads or diapers. Continence was evaluated by a patient interview 1, 3 and 6 months after RRP.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics between patients with and without intussusception of the bladder neck. The percentage of continent patients 1, 3 and 6 months after RRP was 34.7%, 63.9% and 95.8%, respectively, and there were no significant differences in continence between the two groups at any time point. Among several factors examined, only bladder neck preservation was an independent predictor of recovery from urinary incontinence 1 and 3 months after RRP.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that it would be important to preserve the bladder neck for early return to continence after non-nerve-sparing RRP; however, intussusception of the bladder neck may not offer significant improvement in earlier return of urinary control.
Sakai
Iori
I
Department of Urology, Hyogo Medical Center for Adults, Akashi, Japan.
Harada
Ken-Ichi
K
Hara
Isao
I
Eto
Hiroshi
H
Miyake
Hideaki
H
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*