Study to Determine Effects of Vesicare on Return to Continence Post- Radical Prostatectomy
Study to Determine Effects of Vesicare on Return to Continence Post- Radical Prostatectomy
Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men and is the 2nd leading
 cause of death from cancer in men. Radical prostatectomy is one of the treatment options
 available for organ-confined disease. Over 100,000 radical prostatectomies cases (total
 removal of the cancerous prostate by surgery) are performed in the United States yearly.
 Unfortunately nearly all of the men undergoing surgery report diminished Quality of Life
 (QOL) scores due in part due to a postoperative incontinence which may require the use of
 multiple urinary pads per day. Many of these men also report debilitating irritative voiding
 symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency, and have overall decreased urinary satisfaction
 scores. Abatement of these symptoms can take up to one year in men, and in 5-20% of patients
 symptoms may persist for longer periods.

 Our recent published findings suggest that instability in the bladder muscle is likely an
 underlying etiology in postoperative urinary incontinence. This 'Detrusor Muscle' instability
 results in excess contractions of the urinary bladder ('urgency to urinate'), and can result
 in the feeling of needing to urinate more frequently. Consistent with this hypothesis of
 detrusor muscle instability, men with postoperative dribbling had more complaints with
 urgency, frequency and bother scores when queried with validated questionnaires. We suspect
 that a transient bladder muscle contraction may overcome the urinary sphincter valve
 resistance and result in the patient's dribbling of urine.

 By treating the bladder muscle instability, we expect improved postoperative continence and
 improved quality of life in patients after undergoing surgery for total removal of a
 cancerous prostate. This pilot study will assess the statistical requirements for the number
 of subjects needed for a fully 'powered' randomized prospective study to fully evaluate
 whether medications such as solifenacin significantly improve patients' quality of urinary
 life and improve postoperative urinary incontinence after surgery.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Men diagnosed with prostate cancer undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy

 -  Incontinence

 -  Obesity

 -  Large prostate weight

 -  Mild and severe AUA symptom scores

 -  Urinary Bother

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Contra-indication to Solifenacin

 -  Narrow angle glaucoma

 -  Hepatic impairment

 -  Renal impairment

 -  CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. Ketoconazole)

 -  Gastric Retention (delayed or slow emptying of the stomach)