EFFECTIVENESS OF ELECTROSTIMULATION IN THE TREATMENT OF PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH URINARY INCONTINENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

Abstract

Introduction: urinary incontinence is among the most common postoperative complications of radical prostatectomy. Objective: to analyze the effect of a postoperative pelvic floor Physiotherapy program on the degree of urinary incontinence and to study how age, the use of electrostimulation and the waiting time until the completion of the treatment influence. Material and method: sixty patients were classified according to the degree of severity of incontinence in: mild, moderate and severe; each group was divided into 2 groups (G1 and G2) that performed 2 treatment sessions / week. G1 performed home Kegel exercises + biofeedback and electrostimulation were also added to G2. The degree of urinary incontinence was measured using the 24-hour pad test before and after treatment. Results: 83.3 % of patients improved their urinary incontinence. Significant differences were found in the severe group between pre-post for G1 (215.13 ± 76.47 to 144.33 ± 84.93; p < 0,01) and for G2 (255.00 ± 143.26 to 169.88 ± 42.07; p = 0,01). In the mild group, no significant differences were found (p > 0.14). Nor were significant differences found at the end of treatment between G1 and G2. Regarding the waiting time for rehabilitation between those who improved and those who did not improve (20.06 ± 17.13 months vs 36.10 ± 26.99 months' = 0.03). Conclusions: an early pelvic floor physiotherapy program reduces urinary incontinence and its degree of severity, improving the quality of life of patients.