Early and late urinary continence outcomes after unilateral and bilateral nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A retrospective multicentre cohort study in Japan (the MSUG94 group)

BackgroundThe impact of unilateral and bilateral nerve-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (NS-RARP) procedures on continence and the time to continence recovery have not been established.Material and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed a total of 2801 patients who underwent RARP in 9 institutions. Procedures were classified as NS or non-NS; NS procedures were further classified as unilateral or bilateral. The recovery of continence was analysed using propensity score matching method.ResultsThe pad-free rates at 12 months after surgery were higher in the NS group (95% confidence interval of odds ratio, 1.06-1.51). Pad-free rates at all time points within 12 months of surgery did not significantly differ between the unilateral and bilateral NS groups.ConclusionsNS-RARP resulted in better urinary continence outcomes than non-NS-RARP in the first 12 months after surgery. Urinary recovery rates did not significantly differ between unilateral and bilateral NS-RARP.