The impact of nerve‐sparing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy on lower urinary tract function: Prospective assessment of patient‐reported outcomes and frequency volume charts

Aims

To elucidate the effects of a nerve‐sparing (NS) procedure on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary function after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), the associations between the NS procedure and LUTS and urinary function were investigated.

Methods

The participants in this study were 200 consecutive patients who underwent RARP. These patients were categorized into unilateral and bilateral NS groups and the non‐NS group. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) index, frequency‐volume chart, uroflowmetry, 1‐h pad test, and the 5‐item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) questionnaire were evaluated before and after RARP.

Results

The total IPSS score was significantly lower in the unilateral (P = 0.03) and bilateral NS groups (P = 0.03) than in the non‐NS group after RARP. Diurnal maximum voided volume (MVV) values were significantly greater in the bilateral NS group than in the non‐NS group after RARP (P = 0.002). Nocturnal frequency was significantly decreased in the unilateral NS group than in the non‐NS group after RARP (3 months P = 0.01, 12 months P = 0.01). Erectile function was significantly better in both the unilateral NS group (P < 0.0001) and the bilateral NS group (P = 0.02) than in the non‐NS group 12 months after RARP.

Conclusions

The NS procedure in RARP has the possibility to improve not only erectile function, but also LUTS, owing to both the increase of MVV and the decrease of nocturia. Therefore, the NS procedure is also recommended from the viewpoint of early improvement of LUTS and lower urinary tract dysfunction after RARP.