The evidence on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with preoperative biofeedback after radical prostatectomy (RP) is inconclusive. The objective was to analyse the efficacy of PFMT with preoperative biofeedback in reducing postprostatectomy incontinence.

A systematic review and meta-analysis (CRD42024506285) was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The search was performed until July 2024. We selected randomised clinical trials including adults with prostate cancer who were candidates for RP and underwent PFMT with preoperative biofeedback compared with the control group, usual care, or PFMT with postoperative biofeedback, and we assessed urinary incontinence, quality of life, or other surgery-related adverse events. Quality of evidence and risk of bias were assessed. A meta-analysis was performed.

Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review and 13 were included in the meta-analysis. Up to 3 mo following RP, the meta-analysis showed significantly lower rates of postprostatectomy incontinence (n = 485; odds ratio [OR] = 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28, 0.92; p = 0.02; I2 = 21%) in the preoperative biofeedback group than in the control group (ie, no intervention or usual care). Results were maintained at 3-<6 mo (n = 436; OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20, 0.79; p = 0.008; I2 = 49%) and at 6-<12 mo (n = 409; OR = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.85; p = 0.02; I2 = 65%) following RP. No significant changes were observed when compared with the postoperative biofeedback. No publication bias was detected. The level of evidence ranged from very low to low. Further high-quality research is required.

PFMT with preoperative biofeedback reduced postprostatectomy incontinence significantly at different follow-up periods, supporting its use in clinical practice.

Prehabilitation is a process of identifying and assessing factors that could compromise the physical and psychological health of patients undergoing cancer treatment and implementing an intervention to combat such concerns. The use of prehabilitation in cancer surgery has yielded positive outcomes in rectal, lung and abdominal cancers. Prehabilitation strategies have potential to improve the management of patients receiving radiation therapy or chemoradiation. The aim of the present study was to map the evidence of the assessment and evaluation of prehabilitation for radiation therapy patients.

A database search using EMBASE and PubMed was conducted. The PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. Keywords included prehabilitation, radiation therapy/radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy/chemoradiation, intervention and exercise. Types of prehabilitation strategy, their purposes and impact, according to cancer site, were analysed.

Prehabilitation is most commonly evaluated in head and neck cancer, whereby unimodal, physical interventions manage dysphagia. Prehabilitation for lung cancer demonstrated its ability to widen treatment options for patients. Physical prehabilitation is administered to combat adverse effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with rectal cancer.

Prehabilitation is adaptive and tailored to specific patient and site needs; thus it is applied across a wide range of cancer sites. More interventions by which radiation therapy is the definitive treatment modality and larger sample sizes within these studies are warranted to increase prehabilitation utilisation for patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Purpose: This is a secondary analysis examining a six-month home-based Prostate Cancer-Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) on patient-reported urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal function in men with curative prostate cancer (PC) against standard of care. Methods: In a crossover clinical trial, 128 men scheduled for PC surgery (n = 62) or radiotherapy with/without hormones (n = 66) were randomized to PC-PEP (n = 66) or waitlist-control and received the standard of care for 6 months, and then PC-PEP to the end of the year. PC-PEP included daily emails with video instructions, aerobic and strength training, dietary guidance, stress management, and social support, with an initial PFMT nurse consultation. Over 6 months, participants in the PC-PEP received optional text alerts (up to three times daily) reminding them to follow the PFMT video program, encompassing relaxation, quick-twitch, and endurance exercises; compliance was assessed weekly. Participants completed baseline, 6, and 12-month International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaires. Results: At 6 months, men in the PC-PEP reported improved urinary bother (IPSS, p = 0.004), continence (EPIC, p < 0.001), and irritation/obstruction function (p = 0.008) compared to controls, with sustained urinary continence benefits at 12 months (p = 0.002). Surgery patients in the waitlist-control group had 3.5 (95% CI: 1.2, 10, p = 0.024) times and 2.3 (95% CI: 0.82, 6.7, p = 0.11) times higher odds of moderate to severe urinary problems compared to PC-PEP at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Conclusions: PC-PEP significantly improves lower urinary tract symptoms, affirming its suitability for clinical integration alongside established mental health benefits in men with curative prostate cancer.

A 28-day Prostate Cancer-Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) developed through patient engagement was successful at promoting mental and physical health. Thirty prostate cancer patients from Halifax, Canada participated in the 28-day PC-PEP intervention in early 2019. PC-PEP encompassed daily patient education and empowerment videos, prescribed physical activities (including pelvic floor exercises), a mostly plant-based diet, stress reduction techniques, intimacy education, social connection, and support. Quantitative exit surveys and semi-structured interviews (conducted in focus groups of ten) were used to assess perceived factors that facilitated or impeded adherence to the program. The program received high praise from the patients and was deemed extremely useful by the participating men, who rated it 9 out of 10. Patients expressed that the multifaceted, online, home-based nature of the program helped them adhere to it better than they would have had to a single or less comprehensive intervention. Feedback from the participants indicated that the program, when viewed as a whole, was perceived as greater than the sum of its individual parts. Furthermore, the program addressed various issues, including emotional vulnerability and distress, physical fitness, urinary incontinence, challenges in expressing emotions, perceived lack of control over healthcare decisions, emotional fragility, and hesitancy to discuss prostate cancer-related matters in social settings. Patients highly (9.6/10) endorsed integrating the program into the standard care regimen from the very beginning of diagnosis. However, challenges such as work commitments were noted. Patients' high endorsement of PC-PEP suggests that its implementation into the standard of care from day one of diagnosis may be warranted.

The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with localized prostate cancer (LPCa) after treatment mainly surgery and radiotherapy (RT) has received increasing attention. The aim of this study is to compare the HRQoL of LPCa after surgery and RT.

Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched after January 2000 to observe the HRQoL scores after surgery and RT at different treatment time points.

A total of 28 studies were included in this study, and the results showed that LPCa received surgery had better bowel scores than RT at ≤3 (weighted mean differences [WMD] = 4.18; p = 0.03), 3-6 (WMD = 4.16; p < 0.001), 6-12 (WMD = 2.99; p = 0.004), 24-60 (WMD = 1.87; p = 0.06), and ≥60 (WMD = 4.54; p = 0.02) months. However, LPCa received RT had higher urinary scores at ≤3 (WMD = -7.39; p = 0.02), 3-6 (WMD = -6.03; p = 0.02), 6-12 (WMD = -4.90; p < 0.001), 24-60 (WMD = -3.96; p < 0.001), ≥60 (WMD = -2.95; p < 0.001) months and had better sexual scores at ≤3 (WMD = -13.58; p = 0.09), 3-6 (WMD = -12.32; p = 0.06), 6-12 (WMD = -12.03; p = 0.002), 24-60 (WMD = -11.29; p < 0.001), and ≥60 (WMD = -3.10; p = 0.46) months than surgery. The scores difference between surgery and RT decreased over time.

Overall, for LPCa, surgery was associated with better HRQoL in the bowel domain, whereas RT was associated with better HRQoL in the urinary and sexual domains, with the difference between surgery and RT narrowing over time.

To describe and synthesize non-pharmacological and nonsurgical interventions for male urinary incontinence from the existing literature.

A scoping review was conducted following the methodology suggested by Arksey and O'Malley: (1) identification of the research questions; (2) identification of relevant studies using a three-step search recommended by JBI: an initial search within PubMed and CINAHL, a comprehensive literature search within PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and literature search of references lists; (3) study selection; (4) data extraction and charting; (5) collation, summarization, and reporting of the results. The PRISMA-ScR Checklist was used to report.

A total of 4602 studies were identified, of which 87 studies were included. Approximately 78% were randomized controlled trials. More than 88% of the participants were men with prostate cancer. Exercising pelvic floor muscles 30 times per day for 12 weeks was the most frequently reported. Parameters of electrical stimulation were typically set up to 50 Hz and 300 μs for frequency and width of pulse, respectively, and lasted for 15 min. Pure pelvic floor muscle training, Pilates, Yoga, whole body vibration, diaphragm/abdominal muscle training, micturition interruption exercise, acupuncture, and auriculotherapy showed positive effects on reducing urinary incontinence.

The findings suggested implementing pelvic floor muscle training alone before or after surgery can both prompt the recovery of continence in men after prostate cancer surgery. The decision to use biofeedback or electrical stimulation to enhance the therapeutic effect of pelvic floor muscle training should be approached with caution. More rigorous designed studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques and diverse novel methods.

Physicians and nurses need to be up to date on the latest evidence-based non-pharmacological and nonsurgical interventions in male urinary incontinence and select appropriate interventions based on available medical resources and patient preferences.

AimFistulotomy is the commonest procedure performed for low anal fistulas. The incidence of gas and urge incontinence after fistulotomy and whether Kegel exercises (KE) could help recover sphincter function after fistulotomy has not been studied before. Methods Patients operated by fistulotomy for low fistulas were recommended KE (pelvic contraction exercises) 50 times/day for one year postoperatively. Incontinence (solid, liquid, gas and urge) was evaluated objectively (Vaizeys scores) preoperatively [Pre-op Group], in the immediate postoperative period [Pre-KE Group] and at 6-months follow-up [Post-KE Group]. Incontinence scores in all three groups were compared to evaluate the efficacy of KE. Results101 MRI-documented low anal-fistula patients were included. There were 79 males (mean age 39.412.9 years) and median follow-up was 12 months (6-18months). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Fistulas healed in all the patients. Incontinence was present in 5/99 patients (mean incontinence scores-0.130.63) preoperatively and occurred in 20/99 (mean incontinence scores-1.032.18) patients postoperatively (Pre-KE Group). With KE, the incontinence improved completely in 10 and partially improved in other 10 (mean incontinence scores-0.311.09). Urge and gas incontinence accounted for most cases (80%). The mean incontinence scores deteriorated significantly after fistulotomy (pre-op vs pre-KE, p=0.000059, significant) but continence improved significantly with KE, thus the scores between pre-op and post-KE became comparable (pre-op vs post-KE, p=0.07, not significant).ConclusionsFistulotomy, even in low fistulas, can lead to significant increase in gas and urge incontinence. Regular Kegel exercises postoperatively can help recover lost sphincter function and can bring back continence comparable to preoperative levels.

The transanal opening of intersphincteric space (TROPIS) procedure, performed to treat complex anal fistulas, preserves the external anal sphincter (EAS) but involves partial incision of the internal anal sphincter (IAS).

To ascertain the incidence of incontinence after the division of the IAS as is done in TROPIS and to evaluate whether regular Kegel exercises (KE) in the postoperative period can prevent incontinence due to IAS division.

Patients operated on for high complex fistulas and having no preoperative continence problem (score = 0) were included in the study. All patients were operated on by the TROPIS procedure and were recommended KE (pelvic contraction exercises) 50 times/day. KE were commenced on the 10th postoperative day and continued for 1 year. Incontinence was evaluated objectively (by modified Vaizey's scores) in the immediate postoperative period (Pre-KE group) and on long-term follow-up (Post-KE group). The incontinence scores in both groups were compared to evaluate the efficacy of KE.

Of 102 anal fistula patients operated on between July 2018 and July 2020 were included in this study. There were 90 males, the mean age was 42.3 ± 12.8, and the median follow-up was 30 mo (18-42 mo). Three patients were lost to follow-up. There were 65 recurrent fistulas, 92 had multiple tracts, 42 had associated abscess, 46 had horseshoe fistula and 34 were supralevator fistulas. All were magnetic resonance imaging-documented high fistulas (> 1/3 EAS involved). Overall incontinence occurred in 31% patients (Pre-KE group) with urge and gas incontinence accounting for the majority of cases (28.3%). The mean incontinence scores in the Pre-KE group were 1.19 ± 1.96 (in 31 patients, solid = 0, liquid = 7, gas = 8, urge = 24) and in the Post-KE group were 0.26 ± 0.77 (in 13 patients, solid = 0, liquid = 2, gas = 3, urge = 10) (P = 0.00001, t-test).

Division of the IAS led to incontinence, mainly urge incontinence, and also to a mild degree of gas and liquid incontinence. However, regular KE led to a significant reduction in incontinence (both in the number of affected patients and the severity of scores in these patients).