A Prospective Evaluation of Early Acupuncture for Immediate Continence Enhancement After Prostatectomy

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy with a confirmed pathological diagnosis of prostate cancer.
• One week post-radical prostatectomy (RP).
• Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) ≥ 60 or ECOG Performance Status 0-1.
• Age between 50 and 85 years.
• Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Pathological results show positive surgical margins.
• Previous treatment for post-operative urinary incontinence, such as cystostomy, urethral sphincter reconstruction, or urethral suspension.
• Currently or within the last 6 months receiving treatment with principles similar to acupuncture (e.g., electroacupuncture, moxibustion, warm moxibustion).
• Active urinary system infection (excluding asymptomatic lower urinary tract infection).
• Known severe heart diseases, such as severe arrhythmia, severe heart failure, acute myocarditis, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, severe valvular disease, or heart failure.
• Known liver damage or potential severe liver disease (ALT or AST > 10 times the normal limit).
• Known severe renal impairment (eGFR < 25mL/min/1.73m2), planned or ongoing dialysis, or acute contrast-induced nephropathy at screening.
• Known dysfunction of other vital organs or severe primary diseases, such as hematopoietic system diseases.
• Known coagulation dysfunction (with typical clinical diagnosis or clear laboratory test results).
• Patients with mental illness or cognitive impairment; patients with severe depression, alcohol dependence, or a history of drug abuse.
• Urinary incontinence known to be due to other reasons.
• According to the investigator's judgment, the patient is not suitable for this study or has a high probability of dropout (e.g., frequent changes in work environment that make follow-up difficult).
• Life expectancy ≤ 6 months, as judged by the investigator.
• Currently participating in other clinical trials.