Post Prostatectomy Bladder Dysfunction: Where Are We Now?

During the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era, the prevalence of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) continues to rise as more prostatectomies are performed. Treatment of male SUI is a multifactorial decision depending not only on bladder and sphincteric function, but also patient choice. Due to the economic burden and strain on quality of life, procedures and devices have been developed to help patients alleviate their symptoms. Mainstays of treatment include conservative management with biofeedback and Kegel exercises, periurethral bulking agents, or surgical procedures such as the male urethral sling or the artificial urinary sphincter. A proper evaluation is important as bladder dysfunction in the form of detrusor overactivity, detrusor underactivity, and poor bladder compliance can occur independently or coexist with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Thus, it is important to clearly define patient symptomatology to optimize outcomes.