IPA Study
Incontinence Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Anatomical and Functional Determinants
This study investigates the anatomical and functional factors contributing to urinary incontinence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP). Urinary incontinence remains a common postoperative complication, occurring in approximately 15–45% of patients, depending on the definition applied and the surgeon's experience. The primary objective is to identify patient-specific and procedure-related factors associated with postoperative continence outcomes, thereby facilitating improvements in surgical techniques.
The study will include 1,000 patients scheduled to undergo RALP at four participating hospitals. Comprehensive preoperative and postoperative assessments will be performed, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography, urodynamic testing, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), to characterize the anatomical and functional changes occurring before and after surgery.
The overarching aim of the project is to reduce the risk of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence and to optimize treatment planning and patient counseling for individuals undergoing surgical treatment for prostate cancer.