Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: longitudinal evolution and the effect of intensive treatment for erectile dysfunction minimum one year after surgery.

Based on the results of previous doctoral research, several aspects need further investigation. Traditionally, the role of surgery in clinical stage T3 prostate cancers was under debate. However, currently guidelines indicate a place for surgery in high risk patients and consequently functional outcomes (urinary incontinence, voiding symptoms and quality of life) after surgery have to be compared between low and intermediate versus high risk (clinical stage ≥cT3a or PSA > 20ng/ml or Gleason score 8-10) patients (longitudinal study). Secondly, recovery of sexual function after radical prostatectomy (RP) can take up to 40 months after surgery. No study monitored the different treatment strategies for erectile dysfunction (ED), patients followed and discontinued in their first postoperative year. The sexual (dys)function and the undertaken penile rehabilitation strategies in the first year after RP have to be mapped (longitudinal study). Thirdly, only limited research was reported concerning ED after RP, suggesting improved erectile function after pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). A randomized controlled trial should reveal the effect of intensive PFMT for ED minimum one year after RP (randomized controlled trial).

Keywords:Erectile dysfunction, Retropubic and robot radical prostatecto, Pelvic floor rehabilitation- pelvic Floo, Urinary incontinence

Disciplines:Orthopaedics, Human movement and sports sciences, Rehabilitation sciences