Clinical Study on Low-Frequency Electrical Pulse Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise in the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common complication after radical prostatectomy (RP). It has a great influence on the postoperative quality of life of patients. This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy of low-frequency electrical pulse acupoint stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise in the treatment of UI after RP.

Methods: The clinical data of 129 patients with UI after receiving RP in our hospital from July 2020 to July 2023 were retrospectively analysed. A total of 65 patients who received pelvic floor muscle exercise from July 2020 to January 2022 were set as the reference group. Of these patients, four were excluded, resulting in the inclusion of 61 cases. A total of 64 patients who received low-frequency electrical pulse acupoint stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise from February 2022 to July 2023 were classified into the observation group. Of these patients, four were excluded, and 60 cases were finally included. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyse the use of urine pads, recovery time of urinary control and improvement of urination in the two groups.

Results: Before treatment, no significant difference existed in the use of urine pads, urination condition, maximum flow rate, maximum cystometric capacity, maximum urethral closure pressure, abdominal leak point pressure and scores on Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) in both groups (p > 0.05). After treatment, the observation group had significantly lower use of urinary pads, urination frequency and leakage times; Significantly shorter recovery time of urinary control (p < 0.05); And significantly higher maximum flow rate, maximum cystometric capacity, maximum urethral closure pressure, abdominal leak point pressure and SF-36 scores than the reference group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The combination of low-frequency electrical pulse acupoint stimulation and pelvic floor muscle exercise can improve clinical symptoms, shorten the recovery time of urinary control and improve urodynamics and quality of life in patients with UI after RP.