ABSTRACT

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the factors affecting continence in patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Between August 2009 and January 2014, data of 385 patients, who were treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy for prostate cancer at our clinic, was retrospectively analyzed.

The continence rate was significantly higher at the 12-month evaluation in patients who preoperatively had an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score of >22 and who were at a low risk according to the D'Amico classification (p<0.05). The continence rate was significantly higher at the 3-month evaluation in patients who underwent interfascial, classical intrafascial, and fascia-sparing intrafascial techniques compared with those who underwent the classical extrafascial technique. The continence rate was significantly higher in patients who underwent a nerve-sparing surgery.

We found that for the recovery of early and late continences, the use of classical intrafascial and fascia-sparing intrafascial techniques is important. However, we have determined that being at a low risk according to the D'Amico classification and having a high IIEF score are important for the recovery of late continence.

Keywords: Radical prostatectomy, icontinence, prostate cancer, robot assisted surgery