ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is an invaluable whole gland treatment for intermediate, high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, a non-negligible proportion of these patients still harbour urinary incontinence and erectile disfunction after surgery. To assess the efficacy of our rehabilitation program in these patients. METHOD(S): A two arm, retrospective study on patients who underwent a RARP at a single institution in two pre-specified time intervals, namely March-July 2019 (study group) and March-July 2020 (control group), was conducted. Patients in the study group underwent a specific rehabilitation program, consisting of counseling with a prostate case-manager, an urologist and a physiotherapist, therefore starting pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) at least 1-month before RARP. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, this structured program was not delivered to the control group. The primary endpoint was the assessment functional outcomes at 30 days, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Continence recovery was defined as no use of pad, while erectile function (EF) recovery was defined as erection sufficient for an intercourse. Secondary endpoints included the following: surgical waiting time (SWT;period from prostate biopsy to surgery), biochemical recurrence (BCR) and/or imaging evidence of progression. RESULT(S): We included 249 patients, 136 (54.6%) in the study group and 113 (45.4%) in the control group. At 30 days after RARP, 49 (36.0%) patients in the study group were completely continent, and 6 (4.4%) had preserved EF as compared to 8 (7.1%) and 0 (0%) in the control group (p<0.001 and p=0.072 respectively). At 3 months, 131 (96.3%) were continent and 30 (22.1%) patients had recovery of EF in the study group, compared with 77 (68.14%) and 9 (8.0%) in the control group (p<0.001). Finally, at 6 months, 134 (98.5%) were continent and 50 (36.8%) had erection sufficient for intercourse in the study group, as compared with 96 (85.0%) and 19 (16.8%) in the control group (p<0.001). Median SWT was 2.9 (2.5-3.1) in 2019 and 5.8 (5.0-7.0) in 2020, (p<0.001). Median follow-up was 42 months (43-44) in the study group vs 32 (31-32) in the control group. No significant differences were observed in the proportion of patients experiencing BCR or imaging disease progression (8.1% vs 2.7%, p>=0.05). CONCLUSION(S): Our rehabilitation program is an valuable tool to enhance functional outcomes in patients undergoing RARP. Further prospective studies are still needed to confirm our results.
ABSTRACT
Introduction & Objectives: Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is an invaluable whole gland treatment for intermediate, high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, a non-negligible proportion of these patients still harbour urinary incontinence and erectile disfunction after surgery. To assess the efficacy of our rehabilitation program among patient with intermediate, high-risk PCa underwent RARP. Material(s) and Method(s): A two arm, retrospective study on patients who underwent a RARP at a single institution in two time intervals, namely March-July 2019 (study group) and March-July 2020 (control group), was conducted. Patients in the study group underwent a specific rehabilitation program, consisting of counseling with a prostate case-manager, an urologist and a physiotherapist, therefore starting pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) at least 1-month before RARP. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, this structured program was not delivered to the control group. The primary endpoint was the assessment functional outcomes at 30 days, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Continence recovery was defined as no use of pad, while erectile function (EF) recovery was defined as erection sufficient for an intercourse. Secondary endpoints included the following: surgical waiting time (SWT), defined as period from prostate biopsy to surgery and oncological outcomes, defined as biochemical recurrence (BCR) and/or imaging evidence of progression. Result(s): We included 249 patients, 136 (54.6%) in the study group and 113 (45.4%) in the control group. No significant differences in baseline characteristics, clinical and pathological features were observed between the two groups. At 30 days after RARP, 49 (36.0%) patients in the study group were completely continent, and 6 (4.4%) had preserved EF as compared to 8 (7.1%) and 0 (0%) in the control group (p <0.001 and p=0.072 respectively). At 3 months, 131 (96.3%) were fully continent and 30 (22.1%) patients had full recovery of EF in the study group, compared with 77 (68.14%) and 9 (8.0%) in the control group (p <0.001). Finally, at 6 months, 134 (98.5%) were continent and 50 (36.8%) had erection sufficient for intercourse in the study group, as compared with 96 (85.0%) and 19 (16.8%) in the control group (p <0.001). Median SWT was 2.9 (2.5-3.1) in 2019 and 5.8 (5.0-7.0) in 2020, (p<0.001). Median follow-up was 42 months (43-44) in the study group vs 32 (31-32) in the control group. No significant differences were observed in the proportion of patients experiencing BCR or disease progression between the two groups (8.1% vs 2.7%, p>=0.05). Conclusion(s): Our rehabilitation program appears to be a valuable tool to enhance functional outcomes in patients undergoing RARP. Further prospective studies on larger populations are still needed to confirm our results.Copyright © 2023 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are sex differences in vulnerability to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The coronavirus S protein mediates viral entry into target cells employing the host cellular serine protease TMPRSS2 for S-protein priming. The TMPRSS2 gene expression is responsive to androgen stimulation and it could partially explain sex differences. We hypothesized that men chronically exposed to 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) have a lower risk of hospitalization for COVID-19. METHODS: This is a population-based case-control study on consecutive patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus who required hospitalization for COVID-19 (cases), age-matched to beneficiaries of the Lombardy Regional Health Service (controls). Data were collected by two high-volume COVID-19 regional centers of Lombardy (Italy). The primary outcome was to compare the prevalence of patients chronically exposed to 5ARIs, who required hospitalization for COVID-19, with the one of controls. RESULTS: Overall, 943 males were enrolled;45 (4.77%) were exposed to 5ARI. COVID-19 patients aged >55 years under 5ARI treatment were significantly less than expected on the basis of the prevalence of 5ARI treatment among age-matched controls (5.57 vs. 8.14%;p=0.0083, 95%CI=0.75-3.97%). This disproportion was higher for men aged >65 (7.14 vs. 12.31%;p=0.0001, 95%CI=2.83-6.97%). Eighteen 5ARIs-patients died;the mean age of men who died was higher than those who did not: 75.98+/-9.29 vs. 64.78+/-13.57 (p<0.001). Cox-regression and multivariable models did not show correlation between 5ARIs exposure and protection against intensive care unit admission/death. CONCLUSIONS: Men exposed to 5ARIs might be less vulnerable to severe COVID-19, supporting its use in disease prophylaxis.