title: Transrectal ultrasound navigation during minilaparotomy retropubic radical prostatectomy: impact on positive margin rates and prediction of earlier return to urinary continence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) navigation on positive margin rates and membranous urethral length (MUL) after minilaparotomy radical retropubic prostatectomy (MRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates of positive distal margins prior to and after the application for TRUS navigation during MRP were assessed. Of the 189 men undergoing MRP at our institution, 70 were evaluated for the clinical usefulness of preoperative and postoperative MUL. Patients filled out self-administrated questionnaires concerning continence status at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the MRP. Surgery-related factors including MUL were analyzed for the prediction of urinary continence after MRP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the application of TRUS, the rate of positive distal margins decreased by 14%. Postoperative MUL was an independent variable predictive of urinary continence 1 month after surgery. Patients with a MUL longer than 12 mm showed a significantly more favorable recovery from urinary incontinence after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of TRUS results in a lower rate of positive margins, and a longer postoperative MUL is associated with an earlier return to urinary continence after MRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan. okihara@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okihara
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamoi
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ukimura
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawauchi
authors.forename: Tsuneharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012007:Rectum; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014554:Urination