RADIKAALSE PROSTATEKTOOMIA JÄRGSED PROBLEEMID JA NENDE FÜSIOTERAPEUTILINE KÄSITLUS
Problems after radical prostatectomy and their physiotherapeutical treatment
Johanna Poolamets, Reet Linkberg, Paul Korrovits
Abstract Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among the male population in the world. Radical prostatectomy is the most widely used treatment for localized cancer, involving the removal of the prostate. During the operation different nerves, pelvic muscles and blood vessels may get damaged and changes may occur in the function of the genitourinary system. Due to radical prostatectomy most post-operative patients exhibit decline in their life quality, mainly because of erectile dysfunction and incontinence developed after the operation. Studies have shown that 26% to 100% of the patients can experience these problems. This percentage depends on the following: how precisely the problem is defined, surgical approach, collection of data and differences in the age of the participants. Physiotherapeutic methods have proven to give positive results in solving these problems. Based on available scientific literature, various physiotherapeutic methods were studied regarding the problems after radical prostatectomy. Attention was paid to the duration and structure of the therapy, also to the combination of different treatment options. The main intervention methods used in physiotherapy were pelvic floor muscle training, electrical stimulation and electromyographic biofeedback or a combination of these methods. Some studies
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