Prospective evaluation of urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using a validated questionnaire and daily pad use assessment: which definition is more relevant to the patient’s perception of recovery?

INTRODUCTION: No standard definition for urinary continence after radical prostatectomy exists, and there are discrepancies in continence rates reported in the literature, as well as rates reported by physicians and patients. Therefore, we used two tools, a validated questionnaire and daily pad use, to identify the criteria that best reflects patients’ perceptions of continence recovery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of 74 patients who underwent nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Continence was assessed monthly for 3 months following catheter removal using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and by recording the number of pads the patients used on a daily basis. According to daily pad use, patients were categorized as either dry (no-pads), socially continent (0–1 pad) or incontinent (≥2 pads). RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were enrolled with a mean age of 64.3 (±5.6) years. There were no significant differences in continence rates using scores from the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) or no-pad use (29.7% vs 32.4%, 45.9% vs 48.6% and 54.1% vs. 54.1%, at the 1-, 2- and 3-month follow-ups, respectively). However, the number of socially continent patients was significantly higher (59.5%, 70.3% and 81.1%, at the 1-, 2- and 3-month follow-ups, respectively [p <0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: The totally dry definition better reflected patients’ perceptions rather than the socially continent definition for the evaluation of continence recovery following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. To avoid discrepancies, we recommend the use of a validated questionnaire as well as the no-pad definition to standardize the reporting of post radical prostatectomy continence rates.