A review of detrusor overactivity and the overactive bladder after radical prostate cancer treatment

Association Between Common Urologic Medications and Onset of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Men With Prostate Cancer Managed by Different Primary Treatment Modalities

OBJECTIVE

To understand the relationship between common urologic medications phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and anticholinergics (AC) and risk of dementia onset in men who underwent different primary treatments for prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (>50years) with prostate cancer (1998-2022) without Alzheimer's disease or related dementias were selected from Cancer of the Prostatic Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor Registry. Minimum medication use was 3months. Fine-Gray regression was performed to determine the association between medication exposure and dementia onset ≥12months after primary treatment in men matched on age, race, comorbid conditions, smoking, and type of clinical site, with competing risk of death.

RESULTS

Among 5937 men (53% PDE5i; 14% AC), PDE5i users were younger (63 vs 70, P < .01) with less CAD, CVA, DM (all P < .01); AC users were older (68 vs 66, P < .01) with higher incidence of comorbidities (P < .01). Median months of use was 24.3 (IQR 12.1, 48.7) for PDE5i and 12.2 (IQR 6.1, 24.3) for AC users. Cumulative incidence of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias was 6.5% at 15years. PDE5i (P = .07) and AC (P = .06) were not associated with dementia regardless of primary treatment modality.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective cohort study, PDE5i and AC use do not appear independently associated with risk of dementia. Notably, our cohort was generally healthy and younger which may limit our ability to detect significance. We recommend prospective investigation into association between PDE5i and dementia and advise continued judicious stewardship of AC in older patient populations.

Insights into urinary incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: urgent urinary incontinence or stress urinary incontinence

PURPOSE

Urinary incontinence is a common complication following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Few studies have explored the relationships and differences between stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgent urinary incontinence (UUI) after RARP. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence rates and risk factors of UUI and SUI in short term after RARP.

METHODS

We prospectively included prostate cancer patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon. Demographics, lower urinary tract function, oncology, and follow-ups were recorded. Occurrence rates and risk factors of UUI and SUI within 3 months after catheter withdrawal were calculated.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 363 subjects with a mean age of 66.05 years. The median preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was 14 (range 0-35), and the median Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) was 3 (range 0-14). The occurrence rate of UUI and SUI at 3 months after catheter withdrawal was 8.5% (31/363) and 15.2% (55/363). Nearly all patients with UUI also had SUI. Diabetes history and high OABSS before RARP were independent risk factors for UUI, especially within 1 month after catheter withdrawal. The Gleason Score was an independent risk factor for SUI at 3 months after catheter withdrawal. Additionally, UUI but not SUI might be an influencing factor for decision-making regarding postoperative radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence rate of SUI after RARP was persistently higher than that of UUI. Nearly all of the patients with UUI simultaneously had SUI. The risk factors of UUI and SUI after RARP were absolutely different.

Longitudinal urgency outcomes following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

PURPOSE

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a well-known adverse outcome following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Although postoperative SUI has been extensively studied, little focus has been placed on understanding the natural history and impact of urgency symptoms following RALP. The UVA prostatectomy functional outcomes program (PFOP) was developed to comprehensively assess and optimize continence outcomes following RALP. The present study focuses on assessing urgency outcomes in this cohort.

METHODS

PFOP patients with a minimum of 6-months follow up following RALP were included. The PFOP includes prospectively assessed incontinence and quality of life outcomes utilizing ICIQ-MLUTS, Urgency Perception Score (UPS), and IIQ-7 questionnaires. The primary study outcome was urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) as determined by ICIQ-MLUTS UUI domain. Secondary outcomes included urgency (UPS score) and quality of life (IIQ-7).

RESULTS

Forty patients were included with median age 63.5 years. Fourteen (35%) patients reported UUI at baseline. UUI and QOL scores worsened compared to baseline at all time-points. Urgency worsened at 3-weeks and 3-months but returned to baseline by 6-months. Notably, 63% of patients without baseline UUI reported de-novo UUI at 6 months. Although QOL was lower in patients with versus without UUI (IIQ-7 score 3.0 vs 0.0, p = 0.009), severity of UUI was not associated with QOL when controlling for SUI severity.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate significantly worsened UUI from baseline and a large incidence of de-novo UUI following RALP. Further study is needed to inform how urgency and UUI and its treatment affect health-related quality of life following RALP.

The application of "S.I.S" technique improves long-term continence after robotic radical prostatectomy

AIMS

To propose a novel S.I.S technique during the robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), encompassing pubourethral suspension, posterior wall intensification, and bladder neck stripping, and to present functional and oncological outcomes with a special focus on long-term continence.

METHODS

From January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, consecutive patients who underwent RARP were retrospectively investigated and separated into the S.I.S group and the conventional group. Preoperative patient characteristics, tumor status, and perioperative parameters were collected, followed by the assessment of self-reported status on continence, using an International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-urinary incontinence short form (ICIQ-UI-SF). Statistical comparisons were performed on variables between the two surgery groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictive factors for postoperative incontinence severity.

RESULTS

A total of 602 subjects were analyzed with a median follow-up of 24 months. There was no significant difference regarding baseline characteristics and perioperative parameters, except for a more advanced tumor stage in the S.I.S group. The application of the S.I.S technique did not jeopardize the positive surgical margin rate at the bladder neck or long-term tumor control. Notably, the patient-reported degree of incontinence was significantly reduced with the assistance of S.I.S technique, as evidenced by the diminished severe-to-very severe cases. On multivariate analysis, both preoperative body mass index and use of S.I.S modification were independent predictive factors for the long-term incontinence severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of S.I.S technique during RARP is feasible and superior compare with the conventional approach, with a significantly alleviated long-term incontinence severity, without compromising cancer control.

Predictive factors of de novo overactive bladder in clinically localized prostate cancer patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES

To assess the postoperative status of clinically localized prostate cancer patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with a focus on de novo overactive bladder (OAB).

METHODS

The present study included 156 patients who did not have preoperative OAB and underwent RARP between December 2015 and April 2020 at our institution. Patients were divided into the de novo OAB group and non-OAB group based on the findings of overactive bladder symptoms score (OABSS) 6 months after RARP, and comparative assessments were performed between the two groups.

RESULTS

Six months after RARP, de novo OAB was detected in 38 (24.4%) out of 156 patients. Body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of patients with hypertension were significantly higher in the de novo OAB group than in the non-OAB group. No significant differences were observed in the other characteristics examined. Furthermore, the preoperative findings of uroflowmetry and a urodynamic study did not significantly differ between the two groups. Despite the lack of significant differences in preoperative OABSS, total international prostate symptom score, the voiding symptom score, storage symptom score, and quality of life score between the two groups, all of these findings 6 months after RARP were significantly worse in the de novo OAB group than in the non-OAB group. Among the several factors examined, only BMI was independently associated with the development of de novo OAB 6 months after RARP.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a high BMI may develop de novo OAB after RARP, resulting in the significant deterioration of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Sustainable functional urethral reconstruction improves early urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of sustainable functional urethral reconstruction (SFUR) on early recovery of urinary continence (UC) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Overall, 96 patients with primary prostate cancer were randomised into the SFUR or standard group (n = 48 each). The primary outcome was the 1-month UC recovery. Secondary outcomes included short-term (≤3 months) UC recovery, urinary function, micturition-related bother, perioperative complications, and oncological outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the 3-month UC recovery. Generalised estimating equations were used to compare postoperative urinary function and micturition-related bother.

RESULTS

The 1-month UC recovery rates, median 24-h pad weights, and median operative time in the SFUR and standard groups were 73% and 49% (P = 0.017), 0 and 47 g (P = 0.001), and 125 and 103 min (P = 0.025), respectively. The UC recovery rates in the SFUR vs standard groups were 53% vs 23% at 1 week (P = 0.003), 53% vs 32% at 2 weeks (P = 0.038), and 93% vs 77% at 3 months (P = 0.025). The median time to UC recovery in the SFUR and standard groups was 5 and 34 days, respectively (log-rank P = 0.006); multivariable Cox regression supported this result (hazard ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.79, P = 0.024). Similar results were observed when UC was defined as 0 pads/day. Urinary function (P = 0.2) and micturition-related bother (P = 0.8) were similar at all follow-up intervals. The perioperative complication rates, positive surgical margin rates, and 1-year biochemical recurrence-free survival were comparable between both groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SFUR resulted in earlier UC recovery without compromising postoperative urinary function. Long-term validation and multicentre studies are required to confirm the results of this novel technique.

De Novo Detrusor Underactivity and Other Urodynamic Findings after Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review

Background and objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the impact of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function, with special attention towards detrusor underactivity investigated with the means of urodynamic evaluation. Materials and Methods: The review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement and was registered in the PROSPERO (ID#: CRD42020223480). The studied population was limited to men with prostate cancer who underwent urodynamic study prior to and after radical prostatectomy. Eight hundred twenty-seven studies were screened, with twenty-five finally included. A qualitative analysis was performed. Rates of detrusor underactivity (DU) before surgery were reported in eight studies and ranged from 1.6% to 75% (median of 40.8%). DU occurred de novo after RP in 9.1% to 37% of patients (median of 29.1%). On the other hand, preexisting DU resolved in 7% to 35.5% of affected men. Detrusor overactivity (DO) was the most frequently reported outcome, being assessed in 23 studies. The rate of DO preoperatively was from 5% to 76% (median of 25%). De novo was reported in 2.3–54.4% of patients (median of 15%) and resolved after RP in 19.6% to 87.5% (median of 33%) of affected patients. Baseline rates of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) varied between studies from 19% to 59.3%, with a median of 27.8%. The most pronounced change after surgery was the resolution of BOO in 88% to 93.8% (median of 92%) of affected patients. Results: Rates of de novo impaired bladder compliance (IBC) varied from 3.2% to 41.3% (median of 13.3%), whereas the resolution of IBC was reported with rates ranging from 0% to 47% (median of 4.8%). Conclusions: BOO, DO, and DU are frequently diagnosed in men scheduled for RP. BOO is improved after RP in most patients; however, there is still a substantial rate of patients with de novo DU as well as DO which may impair functional outcomes and quality of life.

Mirabegron Reduces Urinary Frequency and Improves Overactive Bladder Symptoms at 3 Months After 125I-brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer: An Open-Labeled, Randomized, Non-Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the additional effects of mirabegron to alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist on lower urinary tract symptoms of patients who underwent ¹²⁵I-brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent ¹²⁵I-brachytherapy for prostate cancer (cT1-cT3aN0M0) in a single institute between September 2016 and October 2018 were enrolled in the randomized, non-placebo, open-labeled, paralleled study. Patients were randomly distributed (1:1) to combination group (tamsulosin (0.2 mg/day) plus mirabegron (50 mg/day)) or tamsulosin-alone group after ¹²⁵I -brachytherapy by envelope method. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in mean voided volume per micturition 3 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy. The secondary endpoints included the changes from baseline of International Prostate Symptom Score, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite scores and 24 hours urinary frequency after 3 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy.

RESULTS

The mean changes in volume voided per micturition in the combination (n = 108) and tamsulosin-alone (n = 110) groups were -62.5 (standard deviation, ±53.8) and -68.0 (standard deviation, ±52.7), respectively (P = .17). The change in Overactive Bladder Symptom Score in combination group (P = .02) was more moderate than in tamsulosin-alone group; and 24 hour urinary frequency in combination group was lower (P = .03) than in tamsulosin-alone group. Retention rates within 3 months after ¹²⁵I-brachytherapy in the mirabegron and tamsulosin-alone groups were 7.3% (9/122) and 6.0% (7/118), respectively (P = .80).

CONCLUSION

Tamsulosin and mirabegron combination therapy after ¹²⁵I-brachytherapy did not improve voided volume per micturition compared to tamsulosin-only treatment. However, it could improve frequent urination and overactive bladder symptoms.

Prevalence and predictors of postoperative detrusor underactivity after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

To identify the prevalence and predictors of postoperative detrusor underactivity during the early postoperative period after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

We carried out a prospective observational study of 64 patients scheduled for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using urodynamic study before and 1 month after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Detrusor underactivity was defined as maximum flow rate ≤15 mL/s and detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate ≤25 cmH₂ O during voiding. Incidences of pre- and postoperative detrusor underactivity were assessed, and predictors of postoperative detrusor underactivity were determined using uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Factors comprised patient characteristics (age, prostate weight etc.), operative factors (surgical duration, nerve sparing etc.) and preoperative urodynamic study parameters (maximum flow rate, bladder contractile index etc.).

RESULTS

Pre- and postoperative detrusor underactivity at 1 month after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy were detected in one patient (1.6%) and 24 patients (37.5%), respectively. Univariate analysis selected preoperative maximum flow rate (P = 0.02), detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (P = 0.04) and bladder contractile index (P < 0.01) as predictors of postoperative detrusor underactivity (odds ratio 0.83, 0.97 and 0.94, respectively). On multivariate analyses, only preoperative bladder contractile index was associated with postoperative detrusor underactivity (P < 0.01; odds ratio 0.94). A cut-off of 102.8 offered optimal accuracy in receiver operating characteristic analysis. Patient characteristics and operative factors were not significantly associated with postoperative detrusor underactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

A comparatively high prevalence of postoperative detrusor underactivity is observed in patients at 1 month after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Patients with preoperative low bladder contractile index have a higher probability of developing early postoperative detrusor underactivity after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Impact of radical prostatectomy on bladder function as demonstrated on urodynamics study-A systematic review

AIMS

This study aims to describe the effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function by performing a systematic review of urodynamics study findings before and after RP.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020206844). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. Studies were included if they involved men who underwent RP and had urodynamics study performed preoperatively, postoperatively, or both. Studies that included only subgroups of patients based on symptoms were excluded. Three hundred and four articles were screened, with 20 articles included. A qualitative analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The rate of baseline bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) pre-RP was 19%-67%. All six studies with comparative data pre- and postoperatively demonstrated a decrease in the rate of patients with equivocal or clear obstruction. The baseline rates of detrusor overactivity (DO) varied widely from 11% to 61.2%. Six of eight studies with 6 months or more follow-up showed an improvement in the rates of DO ranging from 3.0% to 12.5%. The rate of de novo DO ranged from 0% to 54.5%. Four studies reported an increased rate of impaired bladder contractility and two of three studies showed a worsening rate of impaired bladder compliance following RP. This review is limited by the absence of level I/II studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Urodynamics study shows that BOO is improved following RP in most patients. RP resolves DO in some patients and cause de novo DO in others. The net effect is a reduced overall rate of DO in most studies. Bladder compliance and contractility may be impaired after RP.

[Male non-neurogenic overactive bladder]

INTRODUCTION

Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and in particular overactive bladder (OAB) are a frequent reason for consultation in urology and have a significant functional impact in patients.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize current knowledge on non-neurogenic OAB in male patients.

METHOD

A systematic literature review based on Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar was conducted in June 2020.

RESULTS

The prevalence of OAB and benign prostatic hyperplasia increases with age. Symptoms of OAB, on the one hand, and symptoms of prostatic bladder outlet obstruction, on the other hand, can be concomitant and the causal link between the two types of symptoms is difficult to establish. In case of mixed symptoms, it is recommended to treat the most troublesome type of symptoms first and to inform the patient of the risks of failure or deterioration. Indeed, many patients remain symptomatic after prostate surgery and the predictive factors for failure remain to be defined. Thus, preoperative urodynamics is not routinely performed even in case of OAB. De novo detrusor overactivity after radical prostatectomy can reach 77% and persists in the majority of cases. The overall relative risk of storage symptoms after radiotherapy and brachytherapy is higher than that after prostatectomy. The etiology of OAB after prostate surgery is multifactorial. While drug treatments have proven to be effective, little data exists on second-line treatments for OAB after prostate surgery.

CONCLUSION

OAB in men is often linked to a prostatic bladder outlet obstruction. It is essential to inform patients about the possibility of persistence, deterioration, or occurrence of OAB after prostate surgery while the predictors of surgical failure are not clearly defined.

Baseline patient reported outcomes data shows high prevalence of overactive bladder, sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety in Canadian men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer

Background

Research on prostate cancer survivorship patients has largely been on oncological outcome, incontinence and erectile dysfunction, with less data on the relationship between prostate cancer, bladder function and mental health. This study aims to elucidate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), overactive bladder (OAB), sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety in Canadian men with newly diagnosed localised prostate cancer.

Methods

This is a single-centre prospective cross-sectional study of men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer recruited from June 2017 to July 2018. The patient-reported outcomes (PRO) instruments used in this study included the international prostate symptoms score (IPSS), OAB-V8, EQ-5D™, and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite short form (EPIC-26). Clinico-pathological data were extracted from medical records. The prevalence of LUTS, OAB, sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety were determined from the PROs.

Results

A total of 83 patients were included in this study. The median age was 63. Based on IPSS scores, 55.3% of men had mild LUTS, 36.8% had moderate LUTS and 7.9% had severe LUTS. Based on OAB-V8 scores, 55.8% of men had a score of 8 or higher, suggestive of OAB. Only 55.8% of men reported erections adequate for intercourse. 23.1% of men reported to have a moderate to big problem with depression, and 28.8% of men reported to have a degree of anxiety or depression.

Conclusions

OAB is a significant problem in men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer, with a prevalence of 55.8% based on this study. Baseline sexual dysfunction, anxiety and depression are also prevalent in this population.

When should we use urodynamic testing? Recommendations of the Italian Society of Urodynamics (SIUD). Part 2 - Male and neurogical population

Recent studies in literature, have raised some doubts on the routine use of urodynamic testing. Many physicians and articles recommend a selective use of this tool, considering carefully risks and benefits. These recommendations are intended to guide clinicians in the right selection of the male and neurological patients to submit to a urodynamic evaluation. This is the second part of a previous article regarding the urodynamic recommendations in the female population. We reviewed the literature, regarding the use of UDS in male and neurological population with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Specifically, we analyzed and compared the guidelines and recommendations of the most important urology and urogynecology international scientific societies. These publications were used to create the evidence basis for characterizing the recommendations to perform urodynamic testing. A panel of 10 experts was composed and Delphi process was followed to obtain the panelist consensus. The final recommendations were approved by the unanimous consensus of the panel and compared with the best practice recommendations available in the literature. The recommendations are provided for diagnosis and management of common LUTS in male and neurological population. This review provides a summary of the most effective utilization of urodynamic studies for the global evaluation of patients with LUTS, and how to use them when really needed, avoiding unnecessary costs and patient inconveniences.

Efficacy of tadalafil against lower urinary tract symptoms after low-dose-rate brachytherapy in prostate cancer patients

Objectives:

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of addition of tadalafil to tamsulosin in the treatment of brachytherapy patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods:

Localized prostate cancer patients who developed LUTS after low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) were first treated with alpha-1 blockers (tamsulosin, 0.2 mg per day). Those still suffering from LUTS were additionally treated with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (tadalafil, 5 mg/day). LUTS was evaluated by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS Quality of Life (QOL) score, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), and the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5) score before brachytherapy, before treatment with tadalafil, and after three months of treatment with tadalafil.

Results:

Twenty-three patients were enrolled in the study. Each subscore of the IPSS (storage symptom, voiding symptom, and postvoiding symptom) and the QOL score improved, but OABSS and IIEF5 did not show significant recovery after addition of tadalafil treatment. When patient characteristics and each question score were surveyed, time from seed implantation until treatment with tadalafil showed the strongest correlation with recovery.

Conclusions:

Addition of tadalafil to tamsulosin treatment was effective against LUTS in localised prostate cancer patients after brachytherapy.

Evidence level:

2b

Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence: How Common and Bothersome Is It Really?

INTRODUCTION

The implications of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI) on quality of life pose a matter of great concern for urologists and patients alike. Efforts to mitigate this devastating complication have met with varying degrees of success and the literature has shown a discrepancy between patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes.

AIM

To describe the multifactorial physiology of PPI, its evaluation, and its effect on health-related quality of life and sexual function and to review preoperative predictive factors for PPI and explore the disparity between patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes.

METHODS

We selected a representative sample of principal studies addressing these topics pertaining to PPI. The search was executed by a relevant term search on PubMed from 1994 to the present.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main topics of consideration in this review are pathophysiology, predictors and prevalence, and methods of evaluating PPI. We also report on findings on the role of PPI in sexual activity, surgical methods to prevent PPI, and variability in methods of outcome reporting.

RESULTS

The application of various measures to prevent PPI has had variable success and efforts to further refine and widely implement improvements have been complicated by the heterogeneity in measurements used to report and compare outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Patient age, incontinence definitions, and preoperative baseline incontinence make collecting and interpreting urinary function data after radical prostatectomy challenging. Confusion in the literature is compounded by the discrepancy between patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes. On a patient-physician level, there is the issue of potentially under-counseling patients during preoperative discussions on the profound impact of PPI on quality of life in general and on sexual function and satisfaction in particular. Trofimenko V, Myers JB, Brant WO. Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence: How Common and Bothersome Is It Really? Sex Med Rev 2017;5:536-543.

Post Prostatectomy Vesicourethral Stenosis or Bladder Neck Contracture with Concomitant Urinary Incontinence: Our Experience and Recommendations

OBJECTIVES

To present our experience in the management of bladder neck contracture with concomitant post prostatectomy incontinence and to provide our recommendations based on the updated literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between Jan 2010 and June 2015, 37 patients from our cohort of 341 patients with post prostatectomy incontinence were evaluated. Patient data were retrospectively collected. Patients with bladder neck contracture confirmed on flexible cystoscopy underwent subsequent rigid cystoscopy and deep endoscopic bladder neck incision (BNI). A follow up flexible cystoscopy would be performed 3 months later. If there was no recurrence of the bladder neck contracture, an artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) or a male sling was recommended.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 68 years (range 59-77) and the mean BMI was 31 (range 21-41) kg/m². Twenty-five (67.7%) patients had open prostatectomy and 12 (32.4%) patients had laparoscopic prostatectomy. Fourteen patients (37.8%) underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-four (64.8%) patients had one BNI procedure, 8 (21.6%) patients had two procedures and 5 (13.5%) patients had more than 2 procedures. Twenty-one (91.3%) patients had AUS implantation and 2 (8.7%) patients had male sling placement. Besides, 85.7% of AUS and 50% of male sling patients managed to achieve successful outcomes with a mean follow up period of 13.1 months (range 2-33 months).

CONCLUSION

Initial management with aggressive BNI followed by implantation of an AUS or male sling when bladder neck is stable is essential to achieve a satisfactory urinary continence outcome.

Modeling Urinary Dysfunction After External Beam Radiation Therapy of the Prostate Using Bladder Dose-Surface Maps: Evidence of Spatially Variable Response of the Bladder Surface

PURPOSE

We assessed the association of the spatial distribution of dose to the bladder surface, described using dose-surface maps, with the risk of urinary dysfunction.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The bladder dose-surface maps of 754 participants from the TROG 03.04-RADAR trial were generated from the volumetric data by virtually cutting the bladder at the sagittal slice, intersecting the bladder center-of-mass through to the bladder posterior and projecting the dose information on a 2-dimensional plane. Pixelwise dose comparisons were performed between patients with and without symptoms (dysuria, hematuria, incontinence, and an International Prostate Symptom Score increase of ≥10 [ΔIPSS10]). The results with and without permutation-based multiple-comparison adjustments are reported. The pixelwise multivariate analysis findings (peak-event model for dysuria, hematuria, and ΔIPSS10; event-count model for incontinence), with adjustments for clinical factors, are also reported.

RESULTS

The associations of the spatially specific dose measures to urinary dysfunction were dependent on the presence of specific symptoms. The doses received by the anteroinferior and, to lesser extent, posterosuperior surface of the bladder had the strongest relationship with the incidence of dysuria, hematuria, and ΔIPSS10, both with and without adjustment for clinical factors. For the doses to the posteroinferior region corresponding to the area of the trigone, the only symptom with significance was incontinence.

CONCLUSIONS

A spatially variable response of the bladder surface to the dose was found for symptoms of urinary dysfunction. Limiting the dose extending anteriorly might help reduce the risk of urinary dysfunction.

Overactive Bladder and Storage Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Following Radical Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To describe the rate of overactive bladder (OAB) and storage lower urinary tract symptoms following radical prostatectomy (RP) and determine if subsequent radiation increases the risk of OAB.

METHODS

We reviewed all patients who underwent open RP at our tertiary care institution from January 2006 to June 2011. Primary outcomes were the proportion of patients with new OAB and time to development of OAB in those treated with RP alone vs RP plus radiation. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients treated for OAB. A Cox survival analysis was used to assess the impact of radiation on development of OAB.

RESULTS

Of the 875 patients who met study criteria, 19% of patients developed de novo OAB defined as urgency with or without frequency and nocturia. A total of 256 patients (29%) developed 1 or more urinary symptoms including nocturia (22%), frequency (21%), urgency (19%), and urge incontinence (6%) following RP. After adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, cancer stage, and nerve-sparing status, radiation therapy was associated with an increased relative hazard of OAB (5.59; 95% CI 3.63-8.61, P < .001). Among men classified with de novo OAB, only 41% received treatment.

CONCLUSION

OAB and storage lower urinary tract symptoms are prevalent in men post-RP. Adjuvant or salvage radiation therapy increases the risk of developing OAB after RP. OAB may be undertreated in men following prostate cancer treatment.

Observations and outcomes of urethroplasty for bulbomembranous stenosis after radiation therapy for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Bulbomembranous stenosis is a significant complication of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Our purpose is to report outcomes of urethroplasty for radiation-induced bulbomembranous urethral stenoses.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients underwent urethroplasty for refractory radiation-induced bulbomembranous stenoses from January 2004 to November 2013. Patients had a minimum follow-up of 12 months with routine cystoscopy at 6 and 12 months. Primary outcome was urethral patency, and secondary outcomes were 90-day complications, de novo incontinence, de novo erectile dysfunction and bothersome LUTS. Outcomes were compared using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Of the 35 patients, 20 and 15 had stenosis related to external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy, respectively. Mean stricture length was 3.5 cm. Reconstruction was performed using anastomotic urethroplasty in 23 patients (65.7 %), while 12 required tissue transfer as a buccal mucosa graft (20.0 %) or penile island flap (14.3 %). With 50.5 months of follow-up, thirty patients (85.7 %) achieved cystoscopic patency with no significant difference between techniques (p = 0.32). A 90-day complication rate of 31.4 % was observed (all Clavien 1-2) with no difference between techniques (p = 1.00). Adverse change in continence occurred in 25.7 % of patients (13.3 % in those without previous TURP). Postoperatively, persisting storage LUTS occurred in 40.0 and 30.4 % described adverse change in erectile function (exclusively in the anastomotic urethroplasty group).

CONCLUSIONS

Reconstruction of radiation-induced bulbomembranous stenosis yields satisfying patency rates. However, radiation-induced urethral stenosis is not an isolated problem as many patients suffer from storage symptoms, erectile dysfunction or incontinence as a consequence of treatment either before or after urethroplasty.