SEQUELAE OF RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

Objective To evaluate the sequelae of radical prostatectomy, using a s urvey instrument. Patients and methods Ninety-three consecutively trea ted patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy and who had been followed-up for between 12 and 48 months (mean 22.5) were sent a quest ionnaire by post. Of these, 86 (92%) completed and returned the questi onnaire. The mean age of the patients at time of surgery was 64 years (range 49-75) and at time of follow-up was 66 years (range 50-77). Res ults Of the 86 patients who responded, 47% used a pad and 59% leaked u rine daily. Thirty per cent dripped more than a few drops of urine dai ly and 34% found their incontinence bothersome. Eighty-four per cent o f patients recalled that they had erectile potency before surgery. At. follow-up, 9% were able to have a full erection and 38% were able to have a partial erection. Fifty-one per cent reported a substantial pro blem with reduced or absent erection. Twenty per cent had undergone tr eatment for bladder neck contracture and more than half of these had h ad more than one intervention. In all, 24% of the patients reported so me persisting degree of physical unpleasantness which they believed to be secondary to their prostate cancer or the effects of treatment. De spite this, 74% were satisfied with their surgery and 88% said they wo uld undergo surgery again. Conclusions Using this survey instrument, w e found adverse sequelae of radical prostatectomy to be surprisingly h igh. However, patients were generally satisfied with their decision to undergo surgery.