POSTPROSTATECTOMY INCONTINENCE - A URODYNAMIC AND FLUOROSCOPIC POINT-OF-VIEW

Sixty-three male patients suffering from post-prostatectomy incontinence were studied by urodynamics and fluoroscopy. In almost half the patients (49%) the sole cause of incontinence was detrusor instability. Incontinence due to damage of the sphincter mechanism was present in less than half of the patients (47%). However, almost half of these patients (53%) had concomitant detrusor instability. Only a small number of patients (4%) had incontinence due to other causes. It appears that post-prostatectomy incontinence is not always due to a surgical misadventure. Many older patients may have pre-existing neurologic disorders (e.g., Parkinson disease, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, alcoholic neuropathy, and various spinal cord disorders) which can profoundly affect the outcome of prostatic surgery. Detrusor instability should be considered when evaluating post-prostatectomy incontinence.