Evaluation Of Urinary Incontinence Research Articles

The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form as a Substitute for 1-Hour Pad Weight Testing in the Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence in Patients With Pelvic Organ Prolapse Undergoing Surgery.

Stress urinary incontinence is a postoperative complication occurring in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Although the 1-hour pad test measures the degree of urinary incontinence qualitatively and quantitatively, some elderly women undergoing POP surgery do not have the daily activities of living to perform the pad test. Therefore, we examined whether the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) could be used as an alternative tool for pad tests. We retrospectively evaluated 132 patients with POP. In our hospital, 57 patients were treated by laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC), whereas 75 were treated by transvaginal mesh surgery (TVM). We measured the changes in symptoms preand postoperatively using the ICIQ-SF and 1-hour pad weight testing, and investigated the correlation between the total plus component question scores of the ICIQ-SF and 1-hour pad weight. The preoperative ICIQ total scores in all patients decreased significantly as the amount of leakage on the 1-hour pad weight decreased. The component question scores also decreased significantly with decreasing levels of 1-hour pad weight. The LSC and TVM groups had decreased ICIQ-SF total and component question scores as pad weight decreased. At 12 months postoperatively, the ICIQ total scores in all patients significantly declined as the amount of leakage on the 1-hour pad weight decreased. In the LSC group, the ICIQ-SF total and component question scores also decreased with decreased pad weight, but the differences were not always significant between ICIQ scores and pad weight. In the TVM group, the ICIQ-SF total and component question scores also significantly decreased as the pad weight decreased. The ICIQ-SF could be an appropriate substitute for the 1-hour pad weight testing in predicting the severity of urinary incontinence. In the future, we hope to predict the level of urine leakage based on the ICIQ-SF score.

The evaluation of urinary incontinence in secondary school children and risk factors: An epidemiological study

Urinary incontinence is an important problem that can arise due to neurogenic or functional reasons and negatively affect the psychological, social and personality development of children. This study was conducted on secondary school students to determine the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence at night and/or in the daytime. The study universe included all secondary school students attending public elementary schools in the city centre of Eskişehir (N=34 000). Ethics Committee and Provincial Directorate of National Education approvals were obtained before conducting the study. A data collection form prepared by the researchers and a consent form were delivered in a sealed envelope to the parents via the students. The study data were collected over the period 09 May 2018-30 May 2018. A total of 6957 questionnaires that were fully completed among the 7370 surveys were taken into consideration. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software package. The number of children found to have urinary incontinence was 215 (3.1%). It was seen that 33 children had urinary incontinence only in the daytime, 61 children experienced it both at night and during the day and 121 children at night. It was observed that 56% of the children suffering from urinary incontinence had not applied to any health facility for treatment prior to the study. It was found that among the risk factors for urinary incontinence were young age, late start of toilet training and presence of a family history of urinary incontinence. Children with urinary incontinence and their families need medical information and support to reach the root of the problem and seek solutions. Accompanying pathologies in detected cases can be determined in the early period by means of school screenings, and medical evaluation and support can prevent adverse effects on children's psychosocial and personality development.

Basic Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a significant, quality of life health condition affecting millions of women. Incontinence is increasingly common as the population ages, and women present with varying degrees of bother. With basic in-office evaluation, most subtypes of urinary incontinence can be defined, evaluated, and treated. Basic in-office evaluation involves a detailed history with a review of current medical problems and medications, a physical examination, and selective in-office testing.

INCONTINÊNCIA URINÁRIA EM MULHERES COM CÂNCER DE MAMA EM TRATAMENTO QUIMIOTERÁPICO

Objetivo: O presente estudo objetiva avaliar a presença de incontinência urinária em mulheres com câncer de mama no início do tratamento quimioterápico. Métodos: Estudo descritivo exploratório e de corte longitudinal, realizado no Hospital União Oeste Paranaense de Estudos e Combate ao Câncer. Para avaliação da Incontinência Urinária foi utilizado o International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Para análise de correlação foi utilizado o Coeficiente de Correlação de Pearson. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 20 mulheres, com idade média de 53,8±7,1 anos. Quando abordado as respostas do ICIQ-SF, a média encontrada foi de 1,6±0,9 pontos, o que significa baixo impacto da incontinência urinária na vida das participantes. Conclusão: Apesar do baixo impacto de incontinência urinária em mulheres com câncer de mama no inicio do tratamento quimioterápico adjuvante, é de extrema importância avaliar a presença da incontinência urinária.

Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence in Patients with Gynecological Oncology Who Have Not Undergone Surgical Operation

DOI : 10.17681/hsp.453427 Amac: Jinekolojik kanser hastalarinin tedavi donemlerinde uriner inkontinans goruldugu literaturde belirtilmesine ragmen, tedavi oncesi donemde uriner inkontinansi inceleyen calismalar sinirli sayidadir. Calismanin amaci jinekolojik kanser hastalarinda tani aldiklari donemde uriner inkontinansin degerlendirilmesiydi. Gerec ve Yontemler: Calismaya Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Onkoloji Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesinde jinekolojik onkoloji servisinde yatan 30 jinekolojik kanser hastasi ve 30 saglikli kadin dahil edildi. Katilimcilarin demografik bilgileri kaydedildi. Uriner inkontinans; iseme gunlugu, Inkontinans Siddet Indeksi (ISI) ve Uluslararasi Inkontinans Konsultasyon Sorgulama Anketi-Kisa Form ile degerlendirildi. Bulgular: Calismaya katilan jinekolojik kanserli kadinlarin ortalama yasi 50,88±10,54 yil, saglikli kadinlarin 48,80±8,69 yil olarak bulundu (p=0,411). Gruplar arasinda Uluslararasi Inkontinans Konsultasyon Sorgulama Anketi-Kisa Form skoru acisindan (p=0,008) istatistiksel olarak anlamli fark vardi. Iki grup arasinda ISI skoru ve iseme gunlugu parametreleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli fark saptanmadi (p>0,05). Sonuc: Jinekolojik kanser grubunda saglikli gruba gore uriner inkontinansin daha yaygin oldugu tespit edildi. Sonuc olarak, jinekolojik kanser hastalarina tani aldiklari donemden itibaren urolojik rehabilitasyonun uygulanmasi gerektigini dusunmekteyiz.

Office cystometry in a resource-constrained setting: Spectrum of diagnoses and correlation with QUID

Background: Office cystometry is an appropriate technology alternative to urodynamics, especially in resource-poor settings. The combination of a validated screening tool such as the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID) and office cystometry stands as the gold standard in the evaluation of urinary incontinence, where urodynamics is not available. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the spectrum of urinary incontinence diagnoses using a combination of urogynecological examination and office cystometry among women in a resource-constrained sub-Saharan African setting and to correlate this with their QUID diagnoses. Methods: Sixty consenting women who had urinary incontinence diagnosed with QUID were recruited from a related study. The cough stress test was performed to elicit stress incontinence. Standard digital and speculum examinations were performed. Postvoid residual urine volume was determined by catheterization. Simple cystometry was performed to detect detrusor overactivity. Using urogynecological examination and simple cystometry as the gold standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were calculated for QUID. Results: The spectrum of diagnoses made using urogynecological examination and office cystometry included no incontinence 13 (21.7%), urge incontinence 23 (38.3%), stress incontinence 18 (30.0%), mixed incontinence 5 (8.3%), and overflow incontinence in 1 (1.7%) woman, respectively. Using this as the gold standard, QUID demonstrated sensitivity of 87.0%, 55.6%, and 60.0% for urge, stress, and mixed incontinence, respectively, with corresponding specificity of 73.0%, 81.0%, and 83.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Urogynecological examination and office cystometry identified stress, urge, mixed, and overflow urinary incontinence in the study population. Overall, good correlation existed between the QUID and office cystometric diagnoses.

Evaluation of urinary incontinence and quality of life in married women aged between 20 and 49 years (Sakarya, Turkey)

Background/aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and to evaluate the relationship between urinary incontinence and quality of life in married women. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among married women aged 20-49 years living in the vicinity of the Çökekler Community Clinic (Family Health Center) in Sakarya, Turkey, from 1 November 2011 to 15 April 2012. The study group consisted of 1161 women. Results: The frequency of urinary incontinence was 71.5% (n = 830). Out of a total of 830 patients with symptoms of urinary incontinence, mixed was the most frequently determined type (60.4%), followed by urge (33.9%) and then stress urinary incontinence (5.8%). The mean scores obtained by women with urinary incontinence from the general health perceptions and social functioning domains of the SF-36 survey were lower (P < 0.05 for each domain). Conclusion: Urinary incontinence was found to be a common problem among women, and it affects quality of life adversely. Recurrent urinary tract infection and advancing age were the key risk factors in the development of urinary incontinence.

Nonsurgical Management of Urinary Incontinence in Older Women

Purpose of Review Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent and very costly. Proper detection and evaluation of urinary incontinence can facilitate appropriate treatment options for older women. Our goal is to discuss first-line, nonsurgical management of urinary incontinence in older women. We include behavioral, lifestyle, and pharmacologic management options.

Pad Weight Testing in the Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence

Aim To present the teaching module “Pad Weight Testing in the Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence.” This teaching module embodies a presentation, in combination with this manuscript. This manuscript serves as a scientific background review; the evidence base made available on ICS website to summarize current knowledge and recommendations. Methods This review has been prepared by a Working Group of The ICS Urodynamics Committee. The methodology used included comprehensive literature review, consensus formation by the members of the Working Group, and review by members of the ICS Urodynamics Committee core panel. Results The pad test is a non-invasive diagnostic tool for urinary incontinence. It is an easy to perform, inexpensive test with utilization in both the daily patient care and clinical research. Despite it is clear value in initial diagnosis, selection of treatment, and follow-up evaluation, only less than 10% of urologists perform the test routinely. A number of testing protocols with varying lengths of recording time exist, however, only a 1-hr pad test has been standardized. One-hour pad tests are most suitable in establishing initial diagnosis, the 24-hr test serves most often for evaluation of treatment outcomes, and longer pad tests are used in clinical studies. Conclusions The pad test is clearly underutilized. Well-designed studies providing level one evidence are lacking. Numerous variations in how the test is performed by individual urologists make the evaluation of published literature difficult. Future research goals should include randomized studies leading to establishment of optimal protocols of testing for clinical research and daily care. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:507–510, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electrostimulation, response of the pelvic floor muscles, and urinary incontinence in elderly patients post prostatectomy

Objective to investigate the response of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), and urinary incontinence (UI), in patients having undergone a prostatectomy, after treatment using electrical stimulation. Materials and methods this observational study was conducted in an outpatient urogynecologic physical therapy clinic of Hospital dos Servidores in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August to September 2012. Ten patients (aged, 64 ± 7 years) with urinary incontinence resulting from radical prostatectomy, having received surgery within six months of study entry, without urinary infection, and without metallic implants underwent electrical stimulation of the PFM, while in lateral decubitus position with knees and hips flexed. The parameters used were 65 Hz frequency, pulse width of 500 µs, biphasic current, intensity according to the tolerance level reported by the patient, perineal contraction time of four seconds, and rest time of eight seconds for 20 minutes twice a week, totaling 16 sessions of electrical stimulation with active-assisted contraction. Patients were evaluated before and after electrical stimulation through physical therapy evaluation of urinary incontinence, by being asked about the number of disposable guards used daily, using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to measure how the UI interfered with activities of daily living, and by electromyographic biofeedback to measure the work of the PFM. Data were analyzed using Student’s paired t-tests and a significance level of 0.05. Results after 16 sessions of electrical stimulation, the electromyographic biofeedback evaluation showed a significant increase in muscle strength of 10.73 ± 8.64 to 17.16 ± 9.00 µV (t = -3.39, P = 0.008), a significant decrease in the number of diapers used before and after treatment (3.9 ± 1.2 to 1.8 ± 1.5, respectively; t = 5.16, P = 0.0006), and a significant decrease in the interference of urinary incontinence on daily activities of 9.6 ± 0.5 to 4.0 ± 3.8 (t = 5.15, P = 0.0006). Conclusion electrical stimulation may represent a novel way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and decrease urinary incontinence resulting from radical prostatectomy.

Pad weight testing in the evaluation of urinary incontinence

To present the teaching module "Pad Weight Testing in the Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence." This teaching module embodies a presentation, in combination with this manuscript. This manuscript serves as a scientific background review; the evidence base made available on ICS website to summarize current knowledge and recommendations. This review has been prepared by a Working Group of The ICS Urodynamics Committee. The methodology used included comprehensive literature review, consensus formation by the members of the Working Group, and review by members of the ICS Urodynamics Committee core panel. The pad test is a non-invasive diagnostic tool for urinary incontinence. It is an easy to perform, inexpensive test with utilization in both the daily patient care and clinical research. Despite it is clear value in initial diagnosis, selection of treatment, and follow-up evaluation, only less than 10% of urologists perform the test routinely. A number of testing protocols with varying lengths of recording time exist, however, only a 1-hr pad test has been standardized. One-hour pad tests are most suitable in establishing initial diagnosis, the 24-hr test serves most often for evaluation of treatment outcomes, and longer pad tests are used in clinical studies. The pad test is clearly underutilized. Well-designed studies providing level one evidence are lacking. Numerous variations in how the test is performed by individual urologists make the evaluation of published literature difficult. Future research goals should include randomized studies leading to establishment of optimal protocols of testing for clinical research and daily care.

The evaluation of urinary incontinence in preschool age children

Introduction: The urinary incontinence can be classified as organic and functional in children. In the etiology of the functional voiding disorders such as urge incontinence, lazy bladder and dysfunctional voiding several theories have been proposed. However, the exact etiology or pathogenetic mechanisms of the functionel urinary incontinence are not completely understood. It can be considered that toilet training or life style may be important in the etioloy of the urinary incontinence in preschool children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the voiding features of the children aged between 5-6 years. Materials and Methods: Between May 2010 and August 2010 a total of 271 children aged between 5-6 years were included to the study. The approval of the hospital ethics committee and written informed consent were obtained. Children were evaluated with dysfunctional voiding and incontinence symptoms score questionnaire. Children with neurogenic bladder, vesicoureteral reflux, metabolic disorder, history of recurrent urinary tract infection were excluded from the study. Results: Urinary incontinence was detected in 107 children (39.5%). The mean age of the children with or without urinary incontinence was 5.81±0.39 year and 5.88±0.33 years, respectively (p=0.142). There were no statistically significant difference in children with or without urinary incontinence in terms of body mass index, paternal or maternal age or duration of breastfeeding (p&gt;0.05) (Table 1). The quality of life was affected negatively in 69 children (64.5%) with urinary incontinence. In contrast the quality of life was affected negatively only in 25 children (15.2%) without urinary incontinence. The quality of life was 12.05 fold worse in children with urinary incontinence than in children without urinary incontinence. Conclusion: Although in this study, it is revealed that urinary incontinence rates were relatively higher compared to literature in preschool age children studies in larger, randomised and controlled series are needed to confirm these results.&nbsp;

The urethra is a reliable witness: simplifying the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence

In 1970, Bates, Whiteside, and Turner-Warwick [1] wrote that: “...the bladder often proves to be an unreliable witness...” and this phrase has been used for more than 40 years as a justification for urodynamic studies (UDS) in the evaluation of urinary incontinence. However, two studies published this year in the New England Journal of Medicine have reported the predictive value of direct observation of fluid loss from the urethra in making the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) [2] and occult SUI [3]. The studies suggest that for SUI or occult SUI, appropriate management decisions can be made with an office evaluation that includes demonstrating urine loss from the urethra without additional UDS. It probably should not surprise us that SUI is not a condition that requires urodynamic testing. SUI is a urethral problem and current bladder investigations do not investigate urethral conditions very well. Valsalva leak point pressures only indirectly measure urethral pressure, and urethral pressure profilometry typically only measures urethral function at rest and not during SUI conditions. No quantitative or qualitative measure during urodynamics makes the diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI); thus, the diagnosis of USI is still dependent on direct visualization or imaging of fluid loss per urethra with cough or Valsalva. The presence of a catheter in the bladder (UDS) adds nothing of value to the diagnosis of SUI, except that it can confirm the absence of a cough or Valsalva provoked detrusor contraction. One could argue, though, that this type of detrusor event would not produce simultaneous fluid loss with cough, because a detrusor smooth muscle is not a striated muscle and cannot contract fast enough to generate detrusor pressure at the same time as a cough. Thus, there seems to be a limited role for urodynamics for SUI in the setting of a comprehensive history, office evaluation, and examination. Unfortunately, the current medical model encourages diagnostic studies whether or not they are necessary. This editorial proposes that the diagnosis of uncomplicated SUI and occult SUI by an office stress test and the management of it does not require urodynamic testing in most patients.

Reproducibility of a cough and jump stress test for the evaluation of urinary incontinence

The study seeks to determine whether a urinary cough and jump stress test is reproducible and whether there is a relationship between a stress test and a 24-h pad test and our subjective Stress Incontinence Index. Multicenter prospective cohort study of women with subjective stress incontinence. Each patient completed a validated Stress and Urge Incontinence Questionnaire and a 24-h pad test and performed two standardized cough and jump stress tests. All 108 women were incontinent during both the first and second stress tests. There was a large variation in leakage and the leakage was significantly larger during stress test 2 than during stress test 1 (P < 0.02). Correlations found between the stress test and the 24 hour pad test and between the stress test and the Stress Incontinence Index were poor. The cough and jump stress test is reproducible and able to document stress leakage.

519 CORRELATION OF RETROGRADE LEAK POINT PRESSURE WITH OBJECTIVE SEVERITY OF INCONTINENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

You have accessJournal of UrologyUrodynamics/Incontinence/Female Urology: Incontinence - Evaluation & Therapy I1 Apr 2012519 CORRELATION OF RETROGRADE LEAK POINT PRESSURE WITH OBJECTIVE SEVERITY OF INCONTINENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY Ingrid Schauer, Erik Randall Huber, Michael Rutkowski, Peter Birner, and Wilhelm Alexander Hübner Ingrid SchauerIngrid Schauer Krems, Austria More articles by this author , Erik Randall HuberErik Randall Huber Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author , Michael RutkowskiMichael Rutkowski Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author , Peter BirnerPeter Birner Vienna, Austria More articles by this author , and Wilhelm Alexander HübnerWilhelm Alexander Hübner Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2012.02.591AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES As variable treatment options are required for different grades of post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (SUI) an evaluation of patients before incontinence correction surgery is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine if the retrograde leak point pressure (RLPP) correlates with the severity of incontinence in patients after radical prostatectomy (RPE). METHODS 12 patients suffering from post-prostatectomy SUI, admitted for incontinence correction surgery, were evaluated by RLPP, 24h micturition protocol, pad count, 20-minute pad-test and 24h pad-weight. RLPP was measured by retrograde infusion of the urethra using a tip hole catheter, which was blocked in the navicular fossa. The relationship between the parameters was examined with Pearson correlation. RESULTS The patients' mean age was 68 years (SD +/− 6.5, range: 54-77), the mean RLPP was 34.3 cmH2O (SD +/− 10.4 cmH2O), the mean 20-minute pad-test was 23.8g (SD +/− 38.0g) and the mean 24h pad-weight was 275.3g (SD +/− 333.0g). No significant correlation could be found between 24h pad-weight and 20-minute pad-test or pad count (r=0.06, p=0.91 and r=0.31, p=0.51, respectively). There was a strong and significant negative correlation between RLPP and 24h pad-weight (r=-0.87, p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS Currently the 24h pad-weight constitutes the gold standard in evaluation of urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, it is time-consuming and depends on the compliance of the patient. Neither the 20-minute pad-test nor the pad count showed a significant correlation with 24h pad-weight; therefore seem to be of questionable value in evaluation of incontinence. In contrast the RLPP demonstrates a strong and significant negative correlation with 24h pad-weight, thus it could be used as a standardized and practicable parameter to objectify SUI in post-prostatectomy patients. © 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 187Issue 4SApril 2012Page: e213 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Ingrid Schauer Krems, Austria More articles by this author Erik Randall Huber Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author Michael Rutkowski Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author Peter Birner Vienna, Austria More articles by this author Wilhelm Alexander Hübner Korneuburg, Austria More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Validated Instruments in the Evaluation and Treatment Outcomes of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition. Although there are commonly used tools for the evaluation of urinary incontinence and measurement of treatment outcomes, there is no universally accepted standard. However, there are several validated instruments currently available and in use for assessment of patient-reported outcomes. Such an emphasis on patient-reported outcomes is key because there can be discrepancies between a physician's and a patient's perception of symptom severity and outcome.

Evaluation of urinary incontinence in pregnancy and postpartum in Curitiba Mothers Program: a prospective study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), the pelvic floor, and the quality of life during pregnancy and in the postpartum. Three hundred and forty-three women in the third trimester of pregnancy were submitted to physiotherapeutic evaluation for UI and evaluation of pelvic floor muscle function and were asked to fill out the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Of these, 236 returned for postpartum evaluation (65.31 ± 22.63 days). The prevalence of UI was 30.61% during pregnancy and 6.78% postpartum (p < 0.001), with mean vaginal pressure of 3.60 ± 5.35 and 2.56 ± 3.24 mmHg, respectively (p = 0.008). UI was associated with multiparity (p = 0.028). No associations were found between intrapartum variables and UI. UI and vaginal pressure decreased in the postpartum. UI was found to be associated with multiparity. Results of the KHQ indicated impaired quality of life in the symptoms and domains evaluated.

Granskning av sjuksköterskors omvårdnadsdokumentation rörande urininkontinens hos äldre personer

Aim: The purpose with this study was to examine the nurses' documented assessment, investigation, treatment and evaluation of urinary incontinence in older people living in a nursing home.Background: The incidence of urinary incontinence in older people living in a nursing home is a problem worldwide. To achieve a good and safe care, careful nursing documentation is necessary. According to previous studies there are imperfections in the nurses' records of urinary incontinence.Method: The study examined the quantity and quality of 67 nursing records implemented on the basis of the Cat-ch-ing model.Findings: The outcome was that nurses' records of urinary incontinence were deficient. Documentation of investigation and assessment of urinary incontinence were rare in the nurses' records. The result showed that the documented treatment usually offered to the older person was made up of testing and prescription of absorbent incontinence products.Conclusion: Weakness in the documentation of urinary incontinence could for the older person lead to persisted disorder or worse. The imperfections in the nursing records influence the possibility, for the older person, to receive a good and safe care.

Impact of Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy on Urinary Incontinence and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Purpose: The definition of continence after radical prostatectomy has not been established. We examined the continence rate and changes in voiding and storage symptoms after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven patients were enrolled and followed for more than 12 months after a LRP. Postoperative evaluation of urinary incontinence was performed by interview, and was classified as completely dry, intermittent (occasional dribbling only), using only 1 pad/day, using more than 1 pad/day, and no control. Pre- and post-operative International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) were compared (Total, each criterion, and quality of life, voiding, and storage symptom subscores). Results: Sixty seven percent of patients were completely dry and 17% of patients were classified as intermittent. Those using 1 pad/day, more than 1 pad/day, or no control accounted for 2%, 9%, and 5%, respectively. Preand post-operative total IPSS and quality of life scores were not different, but urgency and nocturia scores increased (p＜0.05). The voiding subscore decreased and the storage subscore increased after LRP (p＜0.05), suggesting aggravation of storage symptoms after LRP. Conclusions: We need to determine which definition of continence is most clinically useful. It is important to assess lower urinary tract symptoms, especially storage symptoms, as well as urinary incontinence after LRP. (Korean J Urol 2008;49:134-138)

Pericardial lipoma in a geriatric dog with an incidentally discovered thoracic mass

An intrathoracic mass was discovered as an incidental finding in a 14-year-old, spayed, female Rottweiler cross during evaluation of urinary incontinence. Computed tomography suggested a pericardial or pleural location and high adipose content of the mass. The mass was removed via lateral thoracotomy with partial pericardectomy and was diagnosed as a pericardial lipoma. The dog recovered well, and there was no evidence of recurrence approximately one year later. Adipose tumours of the heart and its associated structures are rare in dogs and have been associated with both successful and fatal outcomes.