Radical perineal prostatectomy and early continence: outcomes after 120 cases.

PURPOSE Evaluate the results of urinary continence on patients who had undergone radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP) for clinically localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed the continence data of 120 patients with pathology of cT1-cT2N0M0 prostate cancer and who had undergone RPP. Continence was assessed on the day of catheter removal, at the end of the first and third month, and the first year postoperatively. The patients who were continent immediately after catheter removal were classified in the group of "immediately continent" while the patients who became continent during the 3 postoperative months were classified as "early continent." RESULTS Mean duration of catheterization was 10 (10-25) days. Of 120 patients, 44 (36.7%) were immediately continent. At the end of the first and third months, 65 (54.1%) and 87 (72.5%), respectively, were early continent. At the one-year follow-up, 95.3% of 107 cases whose one-year follow-up data were available were continent. When the relationship between patients' age and continence was analyzed, it was found that the early continence rates were 77.7% (7/9), 73.3% (33/45), 73.4% (36/49), and 64.7% (11/17) in the groups of=49, 50-59, 60-69, and=70 years, respectively (p=0.68). CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients who underwent RPP rapidly regained continence within 3 months. RPP is an exceptional alternative approach for radical surgery in the treatment of localized prostate cancer.