Patients suffer under incontinence and impotence after RRP, improving techniques and studies are missing. The human amniotic membrane includes growth factors and unique immune tolerance which can improve tissue regeneration. The preliminary studies could prove the potential value of dHAM in the reconstruction of the urinary tract and nerve protection. The investigators initially present a randomized trial to improve postoperative continence and potency of patients undergoing placement of dehydrated human amnion membrane (dHAM) around the neurovascular bundle (NVB) and vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during RRP for the treatment of prostate cancer. RRP is performed in a standardized way by one experienced surgeon. The patients are randomized 1:1 to dHAM vs. placebo and blinded during the study period. The primary outcome is a postoperative continence measure as 24hrs pad test up to 12mos postoperatively. Secondary outcomes are potency, insufficiency of VUA, postoperative complications and biochemical recurrence. Using the T-test with an alpha of 0.05 and a power of 80% and expecting a drop-out of 20% of the patients, an adjusted sample size per arm of 164 patients is required.
The investigators present a randomized trial of patients undergoing placement of dehydrated human amnion membrane (dHAM) around the neurovascular bundle (NVB) and vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in a tertiary center in Germany.