Biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training in patients with urinary incontinence after laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Background. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are used as a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Their efficacy is still being investigated. The use of biofeedback when teaching pelvic floor muscle exercises to patients increases the effectiveness of therapy.

Objective: to assess the efficacy of biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training in patients with urinary incontinence after laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and to compare the results of teaching.

Materials and methods. A total of 64 patients with urinary incontinence after nerve sparing prostatectomy underwent biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation. Radical laparoscopic surgery was performed in 48 (75 %) patients, whereas robot-assisted surgery was performed in 16 (25 %) patients. The patients started their training 2 months postoperatively. We used two-channel electromyography with the Neurotrack ETS system (United Kingdom) to teach the patients isolated pelvic floor muscle contractions. After achieving a minimum activity of abdominal muscles during pelvic floor muscle contractions, the patients started exercises.

Results. There was no significant difference in age between patients who underwent laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (р = 0.79). Fifty-five patients (85.9%) acquired the skill of isolated pelvic floor muscle contractions and could perform training on their own. The remaining 9 patients (14.1 %) required regular support from healthcare professionals at an outpatient unit (1–2 biofeedback-assisted trainings per month). Thus, the type of surgery did not affect the process of training. The type of radical prostatectomy had no impact on the acquisition of the pelvic floor muscle contraction skill.

Conclusion. The time for restoration of urinary continence by biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training did not vary between patients after laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

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