Analysis of Improved Urinary Peak Flow Rates After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

The association between the parameters of uroflowmetry and lower urinary tract symptoms in prostate cancer patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in uroflowmetry parameters in men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred and twenty-eight patients received uroflowmetry testing before and after RARP from November 2011 to December 2018. Clinicopathological data, including age, initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, clinical stage, body mass index (BMI), uroflowmetry parameters, and core lower urinary tract symptom scores (CLSS) were retrospectively obtained from clinical records. Changes in uroflowmetry parameters were analyzed for statistical predictors and effects on post-operative outcomes.

RESULTS

A significant increase in maximum flow rate (MFR) and decreases in voided volume (VV) and post-void residual urine (PVR) were seen. In multivariate analysis, age was a negative predictor of MFR increase, while prostate volume was a positive predictor of PVR decrease and MFR increase. VV decrease led to worse incontinence symptoms, while PVR decrease and MFR increase led to improvement in voiding symptoms such as slow stream and straining. Continence recovery curves showed that VV decrease were associated with a delay in continence recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant changes were seen in uroflowmetry results after RARP, each parameter directly related to urinary symptoms. In particular, VV decrease was associated with a worsening of incontinence symptoms and continence recovery.

Detailed analysis of patient-reported lower urinary tract symptoms and effect on quality of life after robotic radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively evaluate short- to medium-term patient-reported lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using validated questionnaires in a large cohort of patients following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HRQoL and LUTS outcomes were prospectively assessed in 357 consecutive men undergoing RARP at a single center from 2012 to 2015 using the functional assessment of cancer therapy-prostate (FACT-P) and the international consultation on incontinence modular questionnaire-male LUTS (ICIQ-MLUTS). Questionnaires were administered at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANOVA.

RESULTS

Questionnaire completion rates were high (over 60% of eligible men completed 18-month follow-up). Mean Total FACT-P did not significantly change after RARP: 125.95 (standard deviation [SD] = 19.82) at baseline and 125.86 (SD = 21.14) at 18-months (P = 0.55). Mean total ICIQ-MLUTS also remained unchanged: 18.69 (SD = 10.70) at baseline and 18.76 (SD = 11.33) at 18-months (P = 0.11). Mean voiding score significantly reduced from 10.34 (SD = 5.78) at baseline to 6.33 (SD = 3.99) at 6 months after RARP (P<0.001). A reciprocal significant increase in storage score was observed: 5.34 (SD = 4.26) at baseline, 9.65 (SD = 5.71) at 6 months (P<0.001). Subanalyses of ICIQ-MLUTS scores revealed increases in storage symptoms were exclusively within urinary incontinence domains and included significant increases in both urge and stress urinary incontinence scores.

CONCLUSION

Overall, patient-reported outcome measures evaluating HRQoL and LUTS do not significantly change after RARP. Detailed analysis reveals significant changes within LUTS domains do occur after surgery which could be overlooked if only total LUTS scores are reported.

Diminished long-term recovery of peak flow rate (PFR) after robotic prostatectomy in men with baseline PFR <10 mL/s and incidental association with high-risk prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on uroflowmetry (UF) parameters among men with baseline peak flow rates (PFR) <10 mL/s.

METHODS

A single-surgeon RARP database of 1082 men who underwent prospective UF testing was analyzed. Men filled out International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires and underwent uroflowmetry and post-void bladder ultrasound before surgery and at each follow-up visit. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on preoperative PFR: those with PFR <10 mL/s (n = 158) and those with PFR ≥10 mL/s (n = 924). Univariate and multivariate regression models tested the association of preoperative characteristics in predicting postoperative PFR improvement. Within the PFR <10 mL/s group, preoperative variables were analyzed to predict pathologic outcomes.

RESULTS

Three months after RARP, men with baseline PFR <10 mL/s had a 3-fold improvement in PFR (from mean of 7.0 to 24.2 mL/s), whereas in men with PFR ≥10 mL/s there was a 50% improvement (from mean of 19.7 to 28.9 mL/s; P < .001). Improvement in PFR remained stable for >5 years, but mean postoperative PFR was 20% lower in men with baseline PFR <10 mL/s. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (odds ratio [OR] 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.95) and PFR (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.34-0.80) were independent predictors of the percentage improvement in men with baseline PFR <10 mL/s. Preoperative PFR ≤7 mL/s was an independent predictor of Gleason score ≥8 (P = .016), seminal vesicle invasion (P = .010), and lymph node invasion (0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

After RARP, PFR improved significantly, with the improvement persisting over long-term follow-up. However, men with baseline PFR <10 mL/s had a 20% lower postoperative PFR over 5 years, suggesting permanent damage to the bladder and the need for early treatment to maintain bladder health. There appears to be an association between baseline PFR ≤7 mL/s and adverse pathologic features.

Cytoreductive Prostatectomy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: First Lessons Learned From the Multicentric Prospective Local Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer (LoMP) Trial

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively evaluate patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer in the context of the LoMP trial (which investigates the role of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy [cRP] in addition to standard of care [SoC]) and to provide a preliminary analysis of patient's characteristics, safety of cRP, and early local symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

cRP was performed in asymptomatic patients with a resectable tumor and who were fit to undergo surgery (group A, n = 17). Only SoC was administered to patients with metastatic prostate cancer ineligible or unwilling to undergo cRP (group B, n = 29). At 3 months, surgical complications related to cRP and local symptoms for both groups were evaluated.

RESULTS

Median operation time, blood loss, and hospital stay for cRP were 215 minutes (150-290), 250 mL (100-900), and 4 days (2-7), respectively. Respectively 5 (29.4%) and 2 (11.8%) patients suffered grades 1 and 2 complications within 3 months postoperatively. When compared with Group B, patients in group A were younger (64 vs 72 years, P = .005), had lower initial prostate-specific antigen (15.9 vs 156 µg/L, P = .002), and less high-volume metastatic disease (5.9% vs 69%, P <.001). At 3 months, 5 (29.4%) patients in group A reported stress urinary incontinence without any further local symptoms. In group B, respectively 2 (6.8%), 11 (37.9%), and 2 (6.8%) patients suffered urge incontinence, obstructive voiding needing medical intervention, and ureteric obstruction.

CONCLUSION

In a group of well-selected patients, cRP is safe. These patients have more favorable characteristics compared with patients treated with only SoC. If only SoC can be offered, patients are at risk to suffer from local symptoms.

The Effect of the Vesical Adaptation Response to Diuresis on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms after Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Pilot Proof of Concept Study

BACKGROUND

When urine output increases, voided volume at each voiding also increases in normal subjects. This is generally understood as a vesical adaptation response to diuresis (VARD). Because lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are supposed to be improved by the change in bladder function after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP), the aim of the present study was to investigate whether VARD is involved in the improvement of LUTS after RARP.

METHODS

100 consecutive patients who underwent RARP and had the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) index, a frequency-volume chart (FVC), uroflowmetry, and post-voided residual urine (PVR) available were evaluated before and after RARP. This cohort was divided into patients with and without preoperative LUTS according to the preoperative IPSS total score. VARD was defined as the presence of a significant correlation between the urine output rate and voided volume at each voiding (R2>0.2).

RESULTS

In patients with preoperative LUTS, the IPSS total, storage, and voiding symptom scores were significantly improved after RARP (all P<0.001). The QOL index was also significantly improved after RARP (P<0.05). Although VARD was not seen before RARP (R2 = 0.05), it was seen after RARP (3 months R2 = 0.22, 12 months R2 = 0.23). PVR was significantly reduced after RARP (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement of LUTS was seen with acquisition of VARD after RARP. As a result, urinary QOL was also improved in patients with preoperative LUTS. RARP might be an effective procedure for amelioration of LUTS by the acquisition of VARD.

Quantification of Long-term Stability and Specific Relief of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assist in preoperative counseling by assessing long-term changes in American Urological Association symptom scores (AUAss) and lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS)-related quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RARP was performed on 666 men by one surgeon from 2002 to 2007 at a single institution. AUAss and QOL were queried preoperatively and at 3, 9, 15, 24-48, 60-84, and 96+ months postoperatively. LUTS subgroups were compared pre-/postsurgery using univariate and multivariate statistics.

RESULTS

The mean and median follow-up for all responders was 3.0 and 2.4 years. Pad-free continence at 12 months was 89%. A subset of 174 men reported preoperative and long-term responses; average follow-up was 5.8 years (range 4.0-10.3 years). AUAss for all men declined from baseline to 5 years by 3.7 (8.6 to 4.8) whereas QOL/Bother scores decreased by 0.5 (1.7 to 1.2) (all P < .05). Men with baseline mild LUTS remained clinically unchanged with long-term AUAss. Individuals with moderate and severe preoperative LUTS had marked improvements in AUA and QOL scores (all P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSION

Men with mild LUTS have short-term increases in AUAss but most return to baseline and are stable at 5 years. Benefits were found for men with preoperative moderate and severe LUTS in that 63% had significant QOL improvements and 68% reduced their AUAss to mild LUTS, persisting years after RARP. This study suggests that certain patients with preoperative urinary symptoms and bother may experience improvements in LUTS and associated QOL after RARP.