We examined the results of teaching pelvic floor muscle exercises (PME) on micturition parameters,
urinary incontinence, post-micturition dribbling, and quality of life in patients after
transurethral prostatectomy (
TURP). Fifty-eight consecutive patients who were selected to undergo
TURP for
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were admitted into the study: 28 were randomly assigned to a control group (A), 30 formed the investigational group (B) during an initial visit conducted before surgery. In group B patients, perineal exercises were demonstrated in detail, and tested for their correct use via simultaneous rectal and abdominal examination. After the removal of the
urethral catheter, these patients were instructed to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises at home and were evaluated before the exercises and at weekly intervals postoperatively. The American Urological Association Symptom Score improved significantly after
TURP in both groups. The average quality of life score improved more significantly in group B after
TURP, from 5.5 to 1.5 (P < 0.001). The grade of muscle contraction strength after 4 weeks of PME increased from 2.8 to 3.8 in group B (P < 0.01); it was unchanged in the group A. The number of patients with incontinence episodes and post-micturition dribbling was significantly lower in the group B at weeks 1, 2, and 3 (P < 0.01). Our results show that pelvic floor muscle re-education produces a quicker improvement of urinary symptoms and of quality of life in patients after
TURP. Its early practice reduces
urinary incontinence and post-micturition dribbling in the first postoperative weeks. The exercises are simple and easy to perform in the clinical setting and at home, and therefore should be recommended to all cooperative patients after
TURP.