Abstract
A diagnosis of prostate cancer in men who have moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) frequently results in a recommendation to undergo radical prostatectomy. The rationale for this recommendation is that removal of the prostate will treat the prostate cancer and eliminate or minimize urinary symptoms, thus improving the patient's quality of life. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature on men with prostate cancer and moderate to severe LUTS who undergo radical prostatectomy. This review is specific to the postoperative treatment impact on symptoms. We conclude that LUTS is a complex symptoms issue that cannot be answered with a straightforward, single recommendation. Patients require extensive education on treatment outcome risks; advanced practitioners working with this patient population are ideal candidates to provide this intervention. Although postoperative outcomes provide significant hope for resolution or improvement in moderate to severe symptoms of preoperative LUTS, the postoperative risk for urinary incontinence exists.
