Correlation between extended pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary incontinence at early phase after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy

Objectives To investigate the impact of extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) on urinary incontinence (UI) at early post‐surgery robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods Patients who underwent RARP without cavernous nerve sparing were included between 2014 and 2019. Patient data were obtained prospectively. The associations between ePLND and postoperative urinary continence were defined as a maximum of one daily pad use. International prostate symptom score (IPSS) was examined. Expression of synaptophysin and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in perilymph node adipose tissue (PLA) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results In total, 186 and 163 patients underwent RARP with and without ePLND. Urinary continence rate at 1 month postoperatively among patients with ePLND was lower than those without ePLND (24.1% vs. 35.1%, p