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Background/aim: To evaluate the chronological changes in health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)., Patients and Methods: A total of 196 patients were included, and treatment satisfaction was evaluated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) score before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after RARP., Results: At 12 months after RARP, 64.8% of patients were satisfied. On the contrary, 4.6% of patients were dissatisfied at 12 months after RARP. In a multivariate analysis, only urinary bother of EPIC was significantly associated with satisfaction at 12 months after RARP (p=0.025, odds ratio=1.029)., Conclusion: Treatment satisfaction with RARP was generally acceptable from 1 to 12 months after surgery and did not change over time. Urinary bother was associated with satisfaction at 12 months after RARP. Compared with the objective 24-hour pad test, questionnaires answered subjectively were more associated with satisfaction., (Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Objective: To conduct a prospective randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a novel prophylactic procedure for inguinal hernia (IH) after transperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)., Methods: The prophylactic procedure for IH after RARP involved the dissection of the peritoneum ∼5 cm outward from internal inguinal ring (IIR), separating the spermatic cord and vessels from the peritoneum. This was randomly performed on one side (left or right)., Results: A total of 148 cases were included, and IH after RARP was observed in 19 (12.8%) cases, with 11 (7.4%) cases in the right side only, 3 (2.0%) in the left side only, and 5 (3.4%) bilaterally. IHs developed in 9 (6.1%) sides that underwent prophylactic procedure and in 15 (10.1%) that did not. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed no significant difference between the preventive and nonpreventive sides (p = 0.197). Based on the observation during laparoscopic hernioplasty, the prophylactic procedure that strengthened the abdominal wall was by adhesion conglutination of the exfoliated peritoneum in the effective side, and IIRs were opened and developed IH in the ineffective sides. Predictive factors for IH after RARP were not found using Cox proportional hazard model., Conclusion: The preventive procedure for IH used in this study reduced the incidence of IH after RARP, but the difference was not significant.

Aims: To evaluate urinary incontinence using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), daily pad use, and 24-h pad weight test before and after radical prostatectomy (RP) chronologically, and the correlation between them., Methods: ICIQ-SF and questions on daily pad use provided subjective, and 24-h pad weight test for objective evaluation., Results: In total, 258 cases were recruited. The continence rate at 12 months after RP was 67% for no pad use, 87% for security 1 pad/day, and 94% for 1 pad/day. The median ICIQ-SF total score before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after RP was 0, 10, 7, 5, and 4, respectively. Incontinence patterns differed when comparing ICIQ-SF results pre- and post-RP. Significant correlation existed between the ICIQ-SF total score, 24-h pad weight test, and daily pad use; however, point distribution on each scatter plot varied widely. Comparing results before and at 12 months after RP revealed complete recovery for 35% of patients from the ICIQ-SF total score, 67% from daily pad use, and 64% from the 24-h pad weight test. A combination of all 3 showed a recovery of preoperative levels in 29% of patients., Conclusions: ICIQ-SF was effective and convenient for evaluating UI, including the pattern of UI, after RP. Significant correlation, but wide variations, among ICIQ-SF, daily pad use, and the 24-h pad weight test existed. The best evaluation method would be the one that can compare UI status pre- and post-RP using the ICIQ-SF and 24-h pad weight test., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To assess the chronological changes in urinary incontinence and urethral function before and after radical prostatectomy (RP), and to compare the findings of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after RP to evaluate the anatomical changes., Patients and Methods: In total, 185 patients were evaluated with regard to the position of the distal end of the membranous urethra (DMU) on a mid-sagittal MRI slice and urethral sphincter function using the urethral pressure profilometry. The patients also underwent an abdominal leak point pressure test before RP and at 10 days and 12 months after RP. The results were then compared with the chronological changes in urinary incontinence., Results: The MRI results showed that the DMU shifted proximally to an average distance of 4 mm at 10 days after RP and returned to the preoperative position at 12 months after RP. Urethral sphincter function also worsened 10 days after RP, with recovery after 12 months. The residual length of the urethral stump and urinary incontinence were significantly associated with the migration length of the DMU at 10 days after RP. The residual length of the urethral stump was a significant predictor of urinary incontinence after RP., Conclusion: This is the first study to elucidate that the slight vertical repositioning of the membranous urethra after RP causes chronological changes in urinary incontinence. A long urethral residual stump reduces urinary incontinence after RP., (© 2018 The Authors BJU International © 2018 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To measure changes in penile length (PL) over time before and after radical prostatectomy (RP), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms for these changes., Patients and Methods: The stretched PL (SPL) of 102 patients was measured before, 10 days after, and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after RP. The perpendicular distance from the distal end of the membranous urethra to the midline of the pelvic outlet was measured on mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slice at three time points: preoperatively; 10 days after RP; and 12 months after RP. Pre- and postoperative SPLs were compared using paired Student's t-test. Predictors of PL shortening at 10 days and at 12 months after RP were evaluated on univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: The SPL was shortest 10 days after RP (mean PL shortening from preoperative level: 19.9 mm), and gradually recovered thereafter. SPL at 12 months after RP was not significantly different from preoperative SPL. On MRI examination, the distal end of membranous urethra was found to have moved proximally (mean proximal displacement: 3.9 mm) at 10 days after RP, and to have returned to the preoperative position at 12 months after RP. On univariate analysis, only the volume of the removed prostate was a predictor of SPL change at 10 days after surgery; on multivariate analysis, the association was not statistically significant. No predictor of SPL change was found at 12 months after RP., Conclusion: The SPL was shortest at 10 days after RP and gradually recovered thereafter in the present study. Anatomically, the glans and corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethra are an integral structure, and the proximal urethra is drawn into the pelvis during urethrovesical anastomosis. This is the first report showing that slight vertical repositioning of the membranous urethra after RP causes changes in SPL over time. These results can help inform patients about changes in penile appearance after RP., (© 2017 The Authors BJU International © 2017 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims: To examine which preoperative factors, including urodynamic evaluations, and operative procedures could predict continence status after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in this study., Materials and Methods: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of preoperative factors such as age, body mass index, prostate-specific antigen level before biopsy, prostate size before surgery, membranous urethral length measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bladder compliance and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) measured by urodynamic study (UDS), and nerve-sparing (NS) status predicting 24-hr pad test >2 g/day at 1 year after RARP were examined in 111 patients enrolled in this study., Results: The number of patients with incontinence at 1 year after RARP was 39 (35.1%). The only predictive factor for urinary continence was NS grades. To investigate the contribution of NS to urinary continence, 84 patients underwent UDS three times; before, immediately after, and 1 year after RARP. Chronological UDS revealed that recovery patterns of storage and voiding functions were the same among non-NS, unilateral-NS, and bilateral-NS groups, and that higher degrees of NS contributed to lesser decreases in MUCP and longer functional urethral length (FUL) after RARP., Conclusion: Preoperative factors, including the results of UDS, could not predict continence 1 year after RARP. The NS procedure contributed to continence status. NS favorably affected MUCP and FUL; however, it did not affect bladder function after RARP. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:1034-1039, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The aims of the study were to investigate desirable evaluation methods for post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) by analyzing the urinary status before robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).Questionnaires were evaluated from 155 patients prior to operation. The 24-h pad test before RARP revealed a weight of 1.1 g. The mean scores were as follows: total International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) score, 1.2; total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), 10.0; IPSS quality of life, 2.7; Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), 2.9; and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite urinary summary, 92.8. The abdominal leak point pressure test in 111 patients before RARP was negative in all cases. Desirable evaluation methods for PPI should be based on a combination of subjective and objective evaluations and comparisons between pre- and post-RP. ICIQ-SF is considerably convenient for evaluating incontinence, and the 24-h pad test enables evaluation of the incontinence volume in a highly objective manner., (Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine chronological changes in urethral and bladder functions before, immediately after, and 1 year after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), urodynamic studies were prospectively performed., Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients underwent pressure-flow studies, urethral pressure profiles, and abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) tests 1-2 days before, immediately after, and 1 year after RARP., Results: The mean bladder compliance was 28.3 mL/cm H₂O before RARP; it worsened to 16.3 mL/cm H₂O immediately after RARP and recovered to 27.1 mL/cm H₂O at 1 year. The mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate was 61.9 cm H₂O before RARP; it decreased to 34.3 cm H₂O immediately after RARP and remained at 35.6 cm H₂O at 1 year. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure was 84.2 cm H₂O before RARP; it decreased to 33.4 cm H₂O immediately after RARP and recovered to 63.0 cm H₂O at 1 year. Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) evaluated by the ALPP test was observed in 53 patients immediately after RARP, although no patient showed ISD before RARP. ISD remained in 7 patients at 1 year. Both ALPP and maximum urethral closure pressure at 1 year were significant factors for continence in multivariate analysis., Conclusion: Urethral sphincter and bladder function worsen immediately after RARP and recover over time. The bladder storage function after RARP returns to almost the same level before RARP, and the voiding function improves compared with the condition before RARP; however, the urethral sphincter function does not return to its preoperative level. Urethral sphincter dysfunction is considered the main factor for urinary incontinence after RARP., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: We investigated the relationship between a new index considering the estimated working space and difficulty of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) using our database., Patients and Methods: Working height was calculated by the obstetric conjugate diameter minus the bladder and rectal wall thicknesses minus the thickness of postvesical fat minus the rectal fat thicknesses measured using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proportion of working height was calculated by dividing the working height by the obstetric conjugate diameter., Results: A total of 112 RARP cases were enrolled. The mean obstetric conjugate was 105 mm and the mean proportion of working height was 72.5%. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that the proportion of working height was an independent predictive factor for both console time and estimated blood loss., Conclusion: The difficulty of RARP can be predicted by measuring the fat thicknesses around the rectum and bladder by MRI before surgery., (Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate continence status and mechanism of urinary incontinence immediately after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) by performing urodynamic evaluation., Methods: A total of 87 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent RARP were included. Filling cystometry, urethral pressure profilometry, and abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) tests were performed before and immediately after RARP., Results: The mean urine loss ratio (ULR), calculated by dividing the total urine volume by the weight of urine loss after RARP, was 17.8%. Nerve-sparing (NS) surgery significantly affected ULR compared with non-NS surgery. In the comparison between preoperative and postoperative results, the mean maximal cystometric capacity (MCC) and maximal closure urethral pressure (MUCP) decreased from 341 mL and 84.6 cm H2O to 250 mL and 35.6 cm H2O, respectively. No urine leakage was observed in ALPP test preoperatively; however, urine leakage was observed postoperatively in 75 patients (86%), with a mean ALPP of 47.7 cm H2O. Multivariate analysis revealed that MCC, MUCP, and ALPP after RARP were predictive factors for ULR. Linear correlations were found between ULR and MUCP and between ULR and ALPP after RARP. NS status and MUCP after RARP (r=0.247; P=.021) and the ALPP (r=0.254; P=.018) were significantly correlated., Conclusion: In urodynamic evaluation immediately after RARP, MCC, MUCP, and ALPP were found to predictive factors for urinary incontinence. The NS procedure contributed to continence status after RARP., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires a steep Trendelenburg position and CO2 pneumoperitoneum for several hours to secure the surgical visual field. The present study was performed to investigate the influence of each angle of Trendelenburg position during RALP on cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis., Methods: Forty-seven ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients underwent open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) or RALP. Patients receiving RALP were randomized to undergo the operation in the 20°, 25° or 30° Trendelenburg position. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR), end-tidal CO2 pressure (PetCO2 ), tidal volume (Vt), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) were recorded during the operation., Results: Angle of head-down tilt was significantly correlated with MAP, PIP and Cdyn, but not with HR, RR or PetCO2 . MAP decreased gradually over time in each group in the Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum. As the angle of head-down tilt became stronger, MAP, RR, PetCO2 and PIP tended to increase and Cdyn tended to decrease., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the degree of the head-down angle at RALP affected the cardiovascular and respiratory parameters. Pneumoperitoneum with head-down position in RALP influenced the cardiovascular and respiratory system to a greater extent than RRP, and these effects were stronger with deeper head-down angle., (Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)