The Utilization of Electrical Stimulation in Rehabilitation after Radical Prostatectomy

Overview

Prostate carcinoma belongs to the most malignant tumors of the uro -genital system, occurring usually in the fifth to sixth decade of patients life , less frequently also in younger male population. Its incidence is increasing with increasing age. Radical prostatectomy (RAPE) is indicated at an early stage of the disease. Forecast survival rate in such cases in overall good condition is more than 10 years. Frequent later RAPE complications may be stress induced urine incontinence (2-3%) and erectile dysfunction (more than 50%). Rehabilitation treatment was concentrated on relieving the above complications.

The research was carried out within a period of one year. The rehabilitation treatment duration was 4 weeks. The total number of treated patients was 40. The sample of patients was divided into two groups. The first group represented patients who underwent rehabilitation treatment within two years after RAPE and a group of later treated patients who underwent treatment from 2 and more years after RAPE. Early treated patients were 22 and later treated patients were 18. We compared the results in both groups prior to the treatment and after the treatment, and then we compared both groups. We have found significant differences between these two groups in several observed parameters, which gives evidence for contribution of early rehabilitation treatment after radical prostatectomy.

Key words:
radical prostatectomy, urine incontinence, erectile dysfunction, pelvic floor, rehabilitation