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Effect of dorsal vascular complex size on the recovery of continence after radical prostatectomy

World Journal of Urology volume 31, pages 383–388 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The dorsal vascular complex (DVC) of the prostate is considered to be a functional structure having smooth muscles that are connected to the detrusor apron. We conducted this study to provide basic information regarding DVC size as measured by magnetic resonance imaging and to investigate whether DVC size is related to the recovery of continence following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

We prospectively collected data that included the results of prostate MRI and continence recovery of patients who underwent RP. From April 2006 through February 2010, 862 patients underwent RP. Of these, a total of 731 cases were included in the final analysis. The height and width of the DVC were measured in the T1-weighted axial image at the level that showed the puboprostatic ligament.

Results

The continence rate of the total patient cohort at 12 months was 96.7 %. The mean width, height and area of the DVC were 2.0 ± 0.4 cm, 1.2 ± 0.3 cm and 1.8 ± 0.6 cm2, respectively, and there was no linear correlation between continence recovery and these parameters. However, the patients who had a moderately large-sized DVC (2.3–2.8 cm2) regained their continence significantly sooner (mean duration = 2.1 months) than those with small (3.7 months, p = 0.002) or extremely large DVC (4.0 months, p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis, DVC size, age, transfusion and the length of membranous urethra were significant predictors of continence recovery.

Conclusion

The patients who had a moderately large DVC regained continence faster following RP.

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Acknowledgments

IRB number: B-1105-127-106. This study was supported by a grant from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Research Fund (02-2010-031). Woong Na, Jung Su Nam, Seung Beom Ha and Hyung Suk Kim assisted with data retrieval and review. We thank Soyeon Ahn in the Medical Research Collaboration Center of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for providing statistics consultation and support.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    Chang Wook Jeong, Jong Jin Oh, Seong Jin Jeong, Sung Kyu Hong, Seok-Soo Byun & Sang Eun Lee

  2. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Sung Il Hwang & Hak Jong Lee

Authors
  1. Chang Wook Jeong
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  2. Jong Jin Oh
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  3. Seong Jin Jeong
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  4. Sung Kyu Hong
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  5. Seok-Soo Byun
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  6. Sung Il Hwang
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  8. Sang Eun Lee
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Correspondence to Sung Kyu Hong.

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Jeong, C.W., Oh, J.J., Jeong, S.J. et al. Effect of dorsal vascular complex size on the recovery of continence after radical prostatectomy. World J Urol 31, 383–388 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0857-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0857-6

Keywords

  • Prostate
  • Dorsal vascular complex
  • Radical prostatectomy
  • Incontinence