Does radical prostatectomy have an effect on pre-existing lower urinary tract symptoms?
Approximately 40% of men who undergo radical prostatectomy have bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms prior to surgery. The most effective treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostate enlargement is a transurethral resection of the prostate, which resects the ‘obstructing’ benign prostate tissue. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that a radical prostatectomy would also alleviate these pre-existing symptoms. Smilow Center surgeons were the first to report the beneficial effects of a radical prostatectomy on lower urinary tract symptoms (Lepor H, Schwartz E. J. Urol. 161(4):1185-1188 (1999); Lepor H, Slova D. J. Urol. 178(6):2397-2400 (2007)). Approximately 80% of men will experience significant improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms after radical prostatectomy. For men with these symptoms, the overall urinary quality of life is likely to improve after prostatectomy.
