title: Effect of dorsal vascular complex size on the recovery of continence after radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The dorsal vascular complex (DVC) of the prostate is considered to be a functional structure having smooth muscles that are connected to the detrusor apron. We conducted this study to provide basic information regarding DVC size as measured by magnetic resonance imaging and to investigate whether DVC size is related to the recovery of continence following radical prostatectomy (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively collected data that included the results of prostate MRI and continence recovery of patients who underwent RP. From April 2006 through February 2010, 862 patients underwent RP. Of these, a total of 731 cases were included in the final analysis. The height and width of the DVC were measured in the T1-weighted axial image at the level that showed the puboprostatic ligament.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The continence rate of the total patient cohort at 12 months was 96.7 %. The mean width, height and area of the DVC were 2.0 ± 0.4 cm, 1.2 ± 0.3 cm and 1.8 ± 0.6 cm(2), respectively, and there was no linear correlation between continence recovery and these parameters. However, the patients who had a moderately large-sized DVC (2.3-2.8 cm(2)) regained their continence significantly sooner (mean duration = 2.1 months) than those with small (3.7 months, p = 0.002) or extremely large DVC (4.0 months, p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis, DVC size, age, transfusion and the length of membranous urethra were significant predictors of continence recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients who had a moderately large DVC regained continence faster following RP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jong Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Seong Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sung Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Seok-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hak Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology