Early 3-month treatment with comprehensive physical therapy program restores continence in urinary incontinence patients after radical prostatectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: The objective of this study is to ascertain whether an early three-month treatment with electrotherapy and biofeedback restores continence in urinary incontinence patients after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: Design: The study performed a randomized, controlled trial of parallel and open groups. Configuration: Secondary care, urology department of a university hospital complex. PARTICIPANTS: Patients sent for RP due to prostate cancer (n = 60), 47 patients finally completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: The treatment group (TG) received physiotherapy consisting of electrotherapy and biofeedback, 3 days a week for 3 months, while the control group (CG) received no specific treatment. Both groups received a guide to perform pelvic floor exercises at home. The measurement instruments used were the 1- and 24-hour pad tests and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form. The recording method used was a micturition (urinary) diary. RESULTS: The results of the 1-hour pad test (PT) show statistically significant differences between groups at 3 months (P = .001) and 6 months (P = .001), in favor of those in the TG. Sixty-four percent of patients in the TG recovered continence as against 9.1% in the CG after 3 months in the 1-hour PT, in line with the objective of this study. CONCLUSIONS: An early physiotherapy program helps RP patients with urinary incontinence recover continence after 3 months. Moreover, they lead a better quality life.

[Prostate cancer, antiandrogen treatment and cardiovascular risk]. / Cáncer de próstata, terapia antiandrogénica y riesgo cardiovascular.

AIM: To assess if cardiovascular risk (CVR) charts are able to identify the increased risk caused by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. LOCATION: Urban and rural health centres in the province of Ourense. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with PCa who had been prescribed treatment for ADT between 2007 and 2008. MAIN MEASURES: Age, residence (rural/urban), staging (Gleason), diagnostic procedure and, at the beginning and end of follow-up, lipid profile, blood pressure, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, smoking, use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, and Framingham calibrated and ATP III indexes, were determined. Cardiovascular events were recorded during the follow-up. Each patient was his own control. Increasing age was not used in the calculation of the scores at the end of the follow up period. The scores were compared using the t-test for paired samples (SPSS 15.0). RESULTS: A total of 209 cases were included. The mean (SD) age was 73.8 (8.0) years, with 64.6% of urban cases. The scores at baseline and at 12 months of follow-up were: Framingham 9.0 (4.6) and 9.2 (4.8) (P=0.5), ATP III 14.2 (1.7) and 14.2 (1.7) (P=0.9). CONCLUSION: CVR charts do not assess the increased risk associated with androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer.

[Wünderlich s syndrome: importance of diagnostic imaging]. / Síndrome de Wünderlich: importancia del diagnóstico por imagen.

INTRODUCTION: Wünderlich's Syndrome is a spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage characterised by sudden lumbar pain, tangible mass in the lumbar region and signs of hypovolaemic shock. CASE REPORT: A 65 year-old female presented the classic triad indicating Wünderlich's syndrome. Imaging techniques with three-dimensional reconstruction enabled us to determine the diagnosis and aetiology, and aided in determining the treatment. DISCUSSION: We emphasise the importance of imaging methods in diagnosing and choosing treatment for Wünderlich s Syndrome.

[Local recurrence after radical prostatectomy and salvage radiotherapy]. / Recidiva local después de la prostatectomía radical y radioterapia de rescate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy to the prostatic bed in patients with biochemical recurrence prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We analyse the outcomes of 292 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer T1-T2 between January 1992 and June 2003, with an average follow-up of 36 months (range 6 months to 12 years). We detected biochemical recurrence (PSA > 0.20 ng/ml) in 75 (26%) patients. 75 patients with biochemical recurrence, 9 (12%) were diagnosed of local recurrence by the following criteria: a) First PSA obtained 6 weeks after radical prostatectomy < 0.20 ng/ml. b) Time to biochemical recurrence > 6 months. c) Prostate specific antigen doubling time > 6 months. d) Prostate specific antigen velocity after radical prostatectomy < 0.75 ng/ml/year. e) Prostate specific antigen level after radical prostatectomy < 2.5 ng/ml. The 9 patients diagnosed of local recurrence received an average dose of 56.42 Gy to the prostate bed. RESULTS: Of all 9 patients with local recurrence, 8(88.8%) have complete response with a mean follow-up of 30 months (12-36 months). The time between the radiotherapy and the response, in patients with complete response, was lower than 3 months in 7 patients and 12 months in 1 patient. Significant adverse effects associated to radiotherapy were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage radiotherapy may be beneficial in selected patients with local recurrence. The characteristics of prostate specific antigen elevation are useful in distinguishing men with local recurrence from those with distant metastases.

[Prognostic factors of prostate cancer: usefulness of Ki-67 expression in preoperative biopsies]. / Factores pronósticos del cáncer de próstata: utilidad de la expresión del Ki67 en las biopsias preoperatorias.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of Ki-67 expression in preoperative diagnostic biopsies to predict prostate cancer biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We analyze the expression of Ki-67 in ultrasound guided biopsies of 103 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Mean follow-up was 3.4 years (1.3-8.8 yr.). We correlated biochemical progression with traditional prognostic factors such as PSA (> 10/< or = 10), Gleason (> or = 7/< 7), pT classification (pT3/pT 0-2), and the immunohistochemical prognostic factor Ki-67 (> 3%/< or = 3%). RESULTS: 71/103 (69%) patients did not have progression and 32 (31%) had biochemical progression. Mean preoperative PSA was 10.7 ng/ml in patients without progression and 20.90 ng/ml in patients with biochemical progression (p = 0.0001). Mean Gleason score was 6.03 in patients without progression and 6.75 in patients with biochemical progression (p = 0.0001). Ki-67 expression was 3.95% in patients without progression in comparison to 5.05% of patients with biochemical progression. 12/67 (17.9%) of pT 0-2 tumors and 20/36 (55.6%) pT3 tumors progressed (p = 0.0001). Multivariate analysis indicates that there is not relationship between Ki-67 (> 3% < or = 3%) in preoperative biopsy specimens and prostate cancer biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy (p = 0.204). CONCLUSIONS: The immunohistochemical prognostic factor Ki-67 (> 3%/< or = 3%) in preoperative biopsies is less effective than classic factors, PSA (> 10/< or = 10), Gleason score (> or = 7/< 7) and pT classification (pT3/pT 0-2), to predict prostate cancer biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy.