title: Urinary tract-related quality of life after radical prostatectomy: open retropubic versus robot-assisted laparoscopic approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The best technique of radical prostatectomy--open retropubic versus robot-assisted surgery--is a subject of controversy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2011, 2,177 men underwent radical prostatectomy at our department. 252 (12%) cases were laparoscopic robot-assisted, the remainder open retropubic procedures. In Germany, certified prostate cancer centers are required to collect urinary tract-related outcome data after radical prostatectomy using the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. The questionnaire data were used to compare both surgical approaches concerning the urinary tract-related outcome 1, 2 and 3 years postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither the voiding score nor the incontinence score or the bother scale sum differed between the two cohorts at any of the measurement times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerning continence recovery, in this series, there were no detectable differences between robot-assisted and open radical prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. Michael.Froehner @ uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Froehner
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leike
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Twelker
authors.forename: Manfred P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016014:Linear Models; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology