Early post-operative incontinence following transurethral resection of the prostate: prevalence and patient experiences

Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects many men over 70 years of age. One of the most effective treatments
is transurethral resection of the prostate using either diathermy current through a fine metal cutting loop
or holmium fibre. Even after successful surgery, however, patients can suffer from temporary incontinence.
Results of a pilot study found that nurses underestimated this problem and were not aware of incontinence
in their patients. The aims of this study were to assess prevalence of early post-operative incontinence, to
explore patients’ experiences with it, and to determine whether they received adequate information from nurses
about how to deal with incontinence at home. To assess prevalence, symptoms and their interference with
daily life, 94 men were interviewed using the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire Short
Form. To explore experiences, six men were interviewed using an interview guide with open-ended questions.
The findings showed that 35% of the men experienced early post-operative incontinence within 2 weeks after
discharge from hospital. The majority (84%) declared that incontinence interfered with their daily lives. This
study reveals that nurses have an important role in educating patients about coping with temporary incontinence
following prostate surgery.