Anatomical characteristics and urinary continence post RARP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to investigate the differences in the post-operative anatomical characteristics of the lower urinary tract structures in patients who have undergone standard (anterior) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and Retzius-sparing (posterior) RARP and the potential association with urinary continence outcomes.
IRAS ID
275319
Contact name
Alexander Rawlinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 28 days
Research summary
Pre-operative measurement of the length of the urethra (the structure carrying urine from the bladder) to help us predict which patients having their prostate removed for cancer will have a good chance of maintaining urinary continence after surgery is well established. The longer the urethra, the better chance of maintaining continence after surgery. In addition, trials have demonstrated that a new technique of removing a cancerous prostate , known as Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, results in earlier recovery of urinary continence after surgery compared with the standard approach of removing the prostate. To date, no information is available on the reasons why the new Retzius-sparing technique is better than the standard technique in helping men return to urinary continence after surgery. In this study we aim to demonstrate potential anatomical differences that can be measured by MRI to explain why these differences in continence rates occur between the two techniques.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0040
Date of REC Opinion
5 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion