title: Recovery of Urinary Continence After Radical Prostatectomy Using Early vs Late Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation and Biofeedback-associated Treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the early vs late use of pelvic floor electrical stimulation (FES) plus biofeedback (BF) in terms of time to recovery and rate of continence after radical prostatectomy (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2007 and April 2012, a total of 120 patients who underwent RP were prospectively included in the study. In group 1 (60 cases), we included patients who presented a urinary leakage weight ≥50 g for 24 hours, 14 days after catheter removal. In group 2 (60 cases), we included patients who continued to present a urinary leakage weight ≥50 g for 24 hours, 12 months after surgery. In both groups, patients were prospectively submitted to the same program of BF+FES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean leakage weight became significantly lower (P <.002) in group 1 than in group 2 starting from visit 1 (2 weeks) through visit 7 (24 weeks). However, a significant difference (P <.05) between the 2 groups in terms of percentage of continent patients was achieved only at 2 weeks (group 1 = 20%; group 2 = 0%) and 4 weeks (group 1 = 66.7%; group 2 = 46.7%). The objective continence rate 6 months after the beginning of treatment was 96.7% in group 1 and 91.7% in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, the treatment with BF and FES has a significant positive effect on the recovery of urinary continence independently to the time in which it is used (early vs delayed). This protocol might represent a noninvasive method for all patients undergoing RP, also in a 12-month interval from surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salciccia
authors.affiliation: Prostate Unit, Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innocenzi
authors.affiliation: Prostate Unit, Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentilucci
authors.affiliation: Italian National Statistical Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasulo
authors.affiliation: Prostate Unit, Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Prostate Unit, Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: sciarra.md@libero.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000294:innervation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*