Early and late urinary continence outcomes after unilateral and bilateral nerve‐sparing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy: A retrospective multicentre cohort study in Japan (the MSUG94 group)

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe impact of unilateral and bilateral nerve‐sparing robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (NS‐RARP) procedures on continence and the time to continence recovery have not been established.Material and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed a total of 2801 patients who underwent RARP in 9 institutions. Procedures were classified as NS or non‐NS; NS procedures were further classified as unilateral or bilateral. The recovery of continence was analysed using propensity score matching method.ResultsThe pad‐free rates at 12 months after surgery were higher in the NS group (95% confidence interval of odds ratio, 1.06–1.51). Pad‐free rates at all time points within 12 months of surgery did not significantly differ between the unilateral and bilateral NS groups.ConclusionsNS‐RARP resulted in better urinary continence outcomes than non‐NS‐RARP in the first 12 months after surgery. Urinary recovery rates did not significantly differ between unilateral and bilateral NS‐RARP.