Predictors of short-term and long-term incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the prognostic factors for urinary incontinence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: Altogether, 180 patients with localized prostate cancer underwent RARP (same surgeon). Preoperative physical status, disease characteristics, laboratory findings, and surgical technique were recorded and the patients checked 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after RARP regarding their contribution to predicting post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI). RESULTS: Overall, 114 (63.3%) patients had PPI 1 month after RARP and 19 patients (16.0%) at 24 months. Univariate analysis showed that age was a significant factor for predicting PPI at 1 month. PPI predictors at 24 months were age, body mass index, preoperative serum albumin level, previous transurethral resection of the prostate, total operative time, and bladder neck sparing. Multivariate analysis indicated that age and total operative time were significant predictors. CONCLUSION: Older age and longer operative time were highly relevant to short- and long-term PPI occurrence after RARP.