Randomized and Open Trial to Assess the Effectiveness of the Guided Pelvic Floor Exercises Pre-Radical Robotic Prostatectomy on the Improvement of Urinary Incontinence. Initial Results

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Radical prostatectomy has an impact on urinary continence. Many factors are involved in continence. The objective of this study is evaluate the effect of guided Pelvic Floor Exercises prior to robotic radical prostatectomy (RRP) on the rate of urinary incontinence compared with written information. MATERIAL AND METHOD: randomized study of 62 patients who are waiting for PRR. They were rondomized in two groups: experimental group (exercises guided by a physiotherapist) or a control group (written information). Primary objective was the continence rate measured by pad test and ICIQ-SF one month after the intervention, Secondary objectives were incontinence severity, quality of life with SF-36 and KHQ questionnaires and the correlation between incontinence and quality of life. RESULTS: We found no differences in continence rate between groups after the intervention. We found differences in "emotional problems" and "personal relationships", in favor of the control group. There is a correlation between the amount of urine leakage and age, urgency and all the domains of the KHQ questionnaire except general quality of life, as well as in the areas "energy/fatigue" and "social function" of the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapist-guided exercises before RRP do not seem to offer advantages compared to written information, in terms of the incontinence rate and its severity one month after the surgery. Urinary incontinence is correlated with age, urgency, and deterioration in quality of life.