Prior male sling does not affect outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement in patients with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPUI) with or without a prior male sling.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent AUS for PPUI from 2007 to 2022. The primary endpoint was to determine the proportion of patients who achieved social continence, defined as self-reported use of 0-1 pad/day. The secondary endpoints were device failure rates and device failure-free survival.

RESULTS

The analysis included 210 patients, with 30 (14.3%) having had prior slings and 180 (85.7%) without prior slings. After AUS insertion, 80.0% of patients with prior slings and 76.7% of those without prior slings achieved continence (0-1 pad/day). There were six (20.0%) and 53 (29.4%) device failures in patients with and without prior slings, respectively. The median device failure-free survival was not reached in patients with prior slings and was 8.9 years in patients without prior slings (P = 0.048). Limitations include retrospective nature and small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy and safety of AUS in patients with prior slings are similar to those without. Prior sling is associated with a longer device failure-free survival. AUS remains a viable option in patients who have persistent PPI after prior slings.

AdVance™ male sling for stress urinary incontinence: Long-term follow-up and patient satisfaction

Objectives

To evaluate long-term effects, complications and satisfaction among patients treated with AdVance™ and AdVance™ XP slings (AS) at a Norwegian specialist care hospital.

Materials and Methods

Patients who had an AS implanted due to stress urinary incontinence (SUI) 2009-2016 were identified retrospectively. Demographic and perioperative data were extracted from electronic patient files. We did a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) survey with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-26) urinary domain and a Satisfaction Questionnaire (SQ) 2018-2020. Cure was defined as use of ≤1 pad/day.

Results

The AS was implanted in 165 patients, mainly due to mild to moderate SUI (median leakage 112 g, range 13-589 g/24 h). Preoperative urodynamics showed mild detrusor overactivity (DO) in 11 patients. At 6-week follow-up, 148 patients (90%) were cured. The most common complication was urinary retention (N = 38), transient in 32 patients (range 1-42 days). Two patients were later operated with division of the sling due to persistent retention. During clinical follow-up of up to 12 years, 27 patients were reoperated due to persistent/recurrent incontinence. The PROM survey was sent to 125 patients and 115 (92%) replied at median 73 (20-134) months postoperatively. Ninety-one (79%) used ≤1 pads/day, 97 (85%) were satisfied, one patient-reported pain. Regression analyses showed that failure (>1 pad/day) was significantly associated with a higher amount of leakage preoperatively and at the 6-week follow-up. Total cure rate in the complete cohort was 64% at median 73 (20-134) months follow-up.

Conclusions

The AS shows good and persistent long-term results in patients with mild to moderate SUI. The only identified risk factor for long-term failure was higher amount of leakage preoperatively. The incidence of high body mass index (BMI), DO and previous radiotherapy was low and not significantly associated with failure but is still considered risk factors.

Factors Influencing Postoperative Overactive Bladder after Adjustable Trans-Obturator Male System Implantation for Male Stress Incontinence following Prostatectomy

We aimed to determine the risk factors for postoperative overactive bladder (OAB) in patients treated with an adjustable trans-obturator male system (ATOMS) for stress incontinence after radical treatment of prostate cancer. A prospective study was performed on 56 patients implanted with an ATOMS for PPI. Clinical and urodynamic information was recorded before and after ATOMS implantation. We built a multivariate model to find out the clinical and urodynamic factors that independently influenced postoperative OAB and the prognostic factors that influenced the efficacy of medical treatment of OAB. We found that the clinical risk factors were the preoperative intensity of urinary incontinence (number of daily pads used and amount of urinary leakage), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) score, postoperative number of ATOMS adjustments, final cushion volume, and incontinence cure. The urodynamic data associated with OAB were cystometric bladder capacity, voided volume, volume at initial involuntary contraction (IC), maximum flow rate, bladder contractility index (BCI), and urethral resistance (URA). The prognostic factors for the efficacy of oral treatment of OAB were the volume at the first IC (direct relationship) and the maximum abdominal voiding pressure (inverse relationship). The multivariate model showed that the independent clinical risk factors were the daily pad count before the implantation and the ICIQ score at baseline and after treatment. The independent urodynamic data were the volume at the first IC (inverse relationship) and the URA value (direct relationship). Both predictive factors of treatment efficacy were found to be independent. Detrusor overactivity plays an important role in postoperative OAB, although other urodynamic and clinical factors such as the degree of urethral resistance and abdominal strength may influence this condition.

Stress Urinary Incontinence: An Unsolved Clinical Challenge

Stress urinary incontinence is still a frequent problem for women and men, which leads to pronounced impairment of the quality of life and withdrawal from the social environment. Modern diagnostics and therapy improved the situation for individuals affected. But there are still limits, including the correct diagnosis of incontinence and its pathophysiology, as well as the therapeutic algorithms. In most cases, patients are treated with a first-line regimen of drugs, possibly in combination with specific exercises and electrophysiological stimulation. When conservative options are exhausted, minimally invasive surgical therapies are indicated. However, standard surgeries, especially the application of implants, do not pursue any causal therapy. Non-absorbable meshes and ligaments have fallen into disrepute due to complications. In numerous countries, classic techniques such as colposuspension have been revived to avoid implants. Except for tapes in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, the literature on randomized controlled studies is insufficient. This review provides an update on pharmacological and surgical treatment options for stress urinary incontinence; it highlights limitations and formulates wishes for the future from a clinical perspective.

Artificial Urinary Sphincters for Moderate Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence: Current Research and Proposed Approach

Male urinary incontinence is a common complication after radical prostatectomy. The severity of incontinence can be assessed in various ways and helps determine the best surgical intervention to restore continence. While most patients with mild incontinence receive a sling and those with severe incontinence receive an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), there are no clear guidelines on how to manage patients with moderate post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI). Our discussion will focus on the current literature, which demonstrates that an AUS should be considered first-line in men with moderate PPI despite perceived concerns over complications and reintervention rates.

Comparison Study between Artificial Urinary Sphincter and Adjustable Male Sling: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis

AIMS

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the AUS and an adjustable male sling (ATOMSTM).

METHODS

It was a retrospective observational cohort study with two arms. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in order to limit selection bias and, consequently, a comparison between groups in terms of functional outcomes (24 h pad test and perception of improvement questionnaires), complications (overall complications, high-grade complications, reinterventions and explantations) and device survival was performed.

RESULTS

49 patients in both arms were included. The baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. The mean follow up was 43 ± 35 months. Dryness was achieved in 22 patients (44.9%) in the AUS group and 11 (22.5%) in the sling group (p = 0.03). A total of 40 patients declared themselves well improved in the sling group (81%), while 35 (71%) declared the same in the AUS group (p = 0.78). The AUS was associated with more high-grade complications, reinterventions and explantations than the ATOMSTM. Survival at 60 months was 82 ± 9% in the sling group and 67 ± 7% in the AUS group (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

While the AUS may be characterized by a higher dry rate, it has an increased risk of high-grade complications and reinterventions. It is proposed that the ATOMS prosthesis can be successfully used for patients who require a less invasive procedure that maintains good functional outcomes.

Contemporary male slings for stress urinary incontinence: advances in device technology and refinements in surgical techniques

Synthetic male sling (MS) is considered an effective surgical treatment to restore male stress urinary incontinence. The modern MS can be categorised into adjustable or non-adjustable types, while the surgical techniques can be divided into retropubic or transobturator approaches. This narrative review paper evaluates the contemporary MS devices in the current commercial market regarding clinical outcomes and refinements in surgical techniques. Scientific advances in device design and technology, coupled with further surgical refinements will enhance the clinical outcomes and improve the safety profile of MS surgery. The newer generation of modern MS not only provides direct compression of the bulbar urethra but also allows for proximal urethral relocation by realigning the mobile sphincter complex to provide further urethral sphincter complex coaptation. Strict patient selection, use of MS with proven clinical records, adherence to safe surgical principles and judicious postoperative care are critical to ensure a high continence rate, good patient satisfaction and low postoperative complications.

Efficacy and Complications of the Re-Adjustable Male Sling System for Stress Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy

The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of re-adjustable male slings in pa-tients with postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following radical prostatectomy (RP). We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients with SUI following RP for prostate cancer, who were treated with re-adjustable male slings from January 2016 to December 2021. The clinical outcomes were evaluated based on daily pad usage and urodynamic studies, both preoperatively and post-operatively. The degree of SUI was categorized as either mild, moderate, or severe. Success was defined as no more pad use or significantly decreased pad use. Complications were classified ac-cording to the Clavien-Dindo system. The mean age of patients was 70.4 ± 5.9 years, and 61.1% of cases were diagnosed as locally advanced prostate cancer. Mild, moderate, and severe SUI were reported as 33.3%, 50.0%, and 16.7%, respectively. The average daily pad use after RP was 3.3 pads and there was a significant reduction in the number of daily pads used after the re-adjustable male sling procedure (3.3 vs. 1.3; p = 0.002). Overall, the operation was considered successful in 11 pa-tients (61.1%), 1 case showed improvement (5.6%), and it was considered unsuccessful in 6 patients (33.3%). Impressively, in the severe incontinence subgroup (three patients), one (33.3%) had im-provement and one (33.3%) had success. Transient perineal discomfort after the operation was the most common complaint. However, two patients had severe complications with bowel injury during sling implantation (Clavien-Dindo grade III). The re-adjustable male sling system was an efficient surgical treatment option for post-RP SUI, even in a locally advanced disease dominant population. One should pay attention to the complication of bowel perforation during surgery.

Modified female mid-urethral sling for the treatment of incontinence after prostate treatment: One-center experience

BACKGROUND

The male sling has emerged as a minimally invasive option for incontinence after prostate treatment (IPT) in recent years, but it has not yet been introduced into China. This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of the modified female mid-urethral sling in the treatment of IPT and explored potential preoperative factors to better predict surgical outcomes.

METHODS

From May 2014 to January 2021, a total of 70 patients with IPT who underwent transobturator male sling procedure using the modified female mid-urethral sling were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon. Functional outcomes were evaluated by daily pad usage, and the severity of incontinence was classified as mild (≤2 pads), moderate (3-4 pads), or severe (≥5 pads). Success was defined as no pad usage or 1 pad for safety (cure), or a reduction in daily pad use by >50% (improved). Patients were followed up at 3, 6 months, and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

At a final follow-up of 6-80 months, 35 (50.0%) patients were cured, 12 (17.1%) were improved, and 23 (32.9%) were still incontinent. There was a slight trend of declining continence over time, and the majority of patients remained improved. During follow-up, 25 patients had perineal or scrotal pain, five patients had voiding difficulty and two had de novo urgency, one developed infection and underwent sling explantation. Early urinary retention was the only significant factor linked to better surgical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The modified female mid-urethral sling represents a viable option for the treatment of IPT. Improved efficacy is seen in patients with a history of early postoperative urinary retention.

Male sling placement for post-prostatectomy incontinence can involve a lengthy learning curve: A multi-outcome assessment via cumulative sum failure analysis

PURPOSES

Little research exists on potential learning curve for male sling procedures. We aimed to perform a learning curve analysis of a single surgeon's experience of sling placement evaluating multiple outcomes and using the cumulative sum failure methodology.

METHODS

The study included 65 consecutive patients that underwent implantation of a fixed transobturator sling (TiLOOP Male) for post-radical prostatectomy stress incontinence at our institution from January 2013 to December 2018. Dichotomous outcomes evaluated with cumulative sum failure analysis included 12-months continence defined based on Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) questionnaire (primary outcome), 24 h pad test and, 24 h pad use, operative time (⩽/>60 min), and complications (yes/no). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of the procedures' chronological sequence number with the outcomes.

RESULTS

Cumulative sum failure curves revealed a clear and lengthy learning curve effect for most of subjective and quantitative continence outcomes and for operative time. For the primary outcome (at least much improved at PGI-I), 62 procedures were required to overcome the learning curve. Accordingly, multivariate analyses showed that the sequence number was statistically significant for predicting failures based on PGI-I (adjusted OR 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99; p = 0.02), objective outcomes, and operative time.

CONCLUSIONS

An evident and lengthy learning curve was observed in our series of male sling placement to achieve the end level of proficiency, independently from case-mix. Individualized structured training on male sling surgery will benefit patients treated in the initial surgeon's experience. Surgical experience should be considered when reporting studies on male slings.

Prevalence of chronic pain following suburethral mesh sling implantation for post-prostatectomy incontinence

PURPOSE

To evaluate postoperative pain and complications following AdVance™/AdVance™ XP male sling implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multi-center retrospective medical notes review of patients implanted for bothersome post-prostatectomy incontinence was conducted. All patients were telephoned to provide further information on pain or further complications related to their surgery. Statistical evaluation utilized logistical regression analysis. Additionally, a literature review was conducted reviewing pain outcomes following AdVance™/AdVance™ XP implantation.

RESULTS

One-hundred and twenty-seven men were reviewed over an 8-year period. The mean age was 70 years, with mean follow up 52 months. Of those with mild stress urinary incontinence, 45 (79%) had a successful outcome compared to 42 (72%) in the moderate group. Twenty-nine (23%) men reported postoperative pain, with a mean maximal pain score of 6 (range: 0-10). The majority of pain resolved within 4 weeks (19/29 men). A further seven patients resolved by 3 months. Only three men (2.3%) had chronic pain greater than 3 months, which all resolved by 1 year. Men less than 65 years were more likely to suffer pain (p = 0.009). Acute urinary retention occurred in 23 (18%) men and correlated significantly with postoperative pain (p = 0.04). Overactive bladder symptoms, severity of incontinence or radiotherapy were not correlated with postoperative pain. In our cohort, there were no extrusions, divisions, or explantations.

CONCLUSION

Approximately a quarter of men experience pain in the early postoperative period. However, the severity and rates of chronic pain (>3 months) are low (2.3%) but all settle within a year.

Argus-T adjustable male sling: A follow-up study on urinary incontinence and patient's satisfaction

AIMS

The use of Argus-T adjustable sling may be a promising alternative option for the treatment of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy, however long-term data is lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of the Argus-T sling on incontinence rates, patient's quality of life and tape-related complications.

METHODS

Patients were eligible if persistent stress incontinence was present ≥12 months after radical prostatectomy. Measurements included 24 h frequency volume micturition list, 24 h pad test, 24 h pad count and quality of life questionnaires. Argus-T adjustable sling was placed with a single perineal route incision approach.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients were included, 69 ± 6 years, pre-intervention 24 h urinary loss 212 (75-385) g. Directly after surgery, 63.6% of the patients was completely dry, 79.2% of the patients reported greater than 90% improvement of their urinary loss and 92.2% > 50% improvement. Median follow-up time was 3.2 (2.5-6.1) years. After 5 years of follow-up, 53.3% of the patients were completely dry, 71.5% reported an improvement greater than 90% and 79.6% reported an improvement of greater than 50%. Patients with preoperative urinary loss less than 250 g reported significantly higher improvement of their urinary loss compared to patients with urinary loss ≥250 g (p = .02). Patients satisfaction was still increased after 5 years follow-up (70 ± 21 vs.16 ± 9, p < .001) and patients quality of life remained high (85 ± 20 vs. 88 ± 13, p = .1). Complications were mainly observed directly after surgery. Two patients (2.6%) needed reimplantation of the sling.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that Argus-T sling is an effective treatment option in obtaining substantial long-term incontinence relief in patients with invalidating moderate stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

Artificial urinary sphincter significantly better than fixed sling for moderate post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence: a propensity score-matched study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) vs retrourethral transobturator sling (RTS) in men with moderate post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI) using propensity score-matching analysis to enhance the validity of the comparison (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Consecutive men with moderate (3-5 pads/day) stress-prevalent PPI were included if implanted with a RTS (TiLOOP^® Male; pfm medical, Köln, Germany) or AUS (AMS800^® ; Boston Scientific, Boston, MA, USA) since July 2011 to December 2017 and with ≥12 months of follow-up. Preoperative assessment included 24-h pad usage, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), urethrocystoscopy, and urodynamics if indicated. Propensity score-matching analysis was based on age, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, pad usage, previous radiotherapy, and urethrotomy. The primary outcome was at least 'much improved' response at 12-months according to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement questionnaire, without additional PPI surgery or prosthesis explantation.

RESULTS

Of 109 included patients, 70 patients were matched and the study groups were well balanced for the baseline matched variables. The median baseline 24-h pad usage was four in both groups (P = 0.10), and median follow-up was 51.2 months for AUS and 47.2 months (P = 0.5) for RTS patients. In the AUS and RTS cohorts, respectively, 33 (94.3%) and 24 (68.6%) patients achieved the primary outcome (P < 0.001), the 0-1 pad/day rates was 94.3% vs 68.6% (P = 0.012) at 12 months, and 91.4% vs 68.6% (P = 0.034) at last follow-up. At the last follow-up, the median 24-h leakage volumes, median ICIQ-SF scores and satisfaction rates were 0 vs 15 mL (P = 0.017), 4 vs 10 (P = 0.001), and 94.3% vs 68.6% (P = 0.012) in the AUS and RTS cohorts, respectively. There were no significant differences in overall rates of complications and re-interventions, although Clavien-Dindo Grade III complications (n = 3) occurred only in the AUS group. At sensitivity analysis, the study was reasonably robust to hidden bias.

CONCLUSION

We found that AUS implantation significantly outperformed RTS in patients with moderate PPI for both subjective and objective outcomes.

Impact of obesity on male urethral sling outcomes

Background:

The impact of obesity on AdVance male urethral sling outcomes has been poorly evaluated. Anecdotally, male urethral sling placement can be more challenging due to body habitus in obese patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on surgical complexity using operative time as a surrogate and secondarily to evaluate the impact on postoperative pad use.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using all men who underwent AdVance male urethral sling placement at a single institution between 2013 and 2019. Descriptive statistics comparing obese and non-obese patients were performed.

Results:

A total of 62 patients were identified with median (IQR) follow up of 14 (4–33) months. Of these, 40 were non-obese and 22 (35.5%) were obese. When excluding patients who underwent concurrent surgery, the mean operative times for the non-obese versus obese cohorts were 61.8 min versus 73.7 min (p = 0.020). No Clavien 3–5 grade complications were noted. At follow up, 47.5% of the non-obese cohort and 63.6% of the obese cohort reported using one or more pads daily (p = 0.290). Four of the five patients with a history of radiation were among the patients wearing pads following male urethral sling placement.

Conclusion:

Obese men undergoing AdVance male urethral sling placement required increased operative time, potentially related to operative complexity, and a higher proportion of obese compared with non-obese patients required postoperative pads for continued urinary incontinence. Further research is required to better delineate the full impact of obesity on male urethral sling outcomes.

What if artificial urinary sphincter is not possible? Feasibility and effectiveness of ProACT for patients with persistent stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy treated by sling

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a major component of the post radical prostatectomy (RP) trifecta. Surgical treatments are sub-urethral slings, artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and adjustable peri-urethral balloons (PUB) ProACT. All options are imperfect at best and persistent SUI is challenging when AUS is not manageable.

AIMS

This study analyzed the cumulate experience of our 2 centers with offering PUB implantation for SUI post RP in patients with insufficient improvement from slings.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed all patients implanted with second line ProACT. The primary endpoint was continence, defined as 0 pads per day (PPD). The secondary endpoints were 50% decrease in PPD and increases in the Incontinence Quality of Life score (IQOL). Refilling and complications were reported.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2016, 26 patients were implanted. Five patients have had adjuvant radiotherapy (18%). The mean follow-up was 36 months (±20; min 14-max 128). All patient presented with persistent SUI, using 2.3 PPD (±1; min 1-max 6), and only one sling was removed due to infection. After ProACT with an average 3 mL refilling (±1.2 min 2-max 6), 18 patients (66.7%) were continent. Eight of the remaining patients (29.6%) were improved; their number of PPD decreased from 2.6 to 1. The average IQOL score of those 8 patients increased by 20 points, from 53.4 up to 74.2 (P = .005). Overall 26 patients (96.3%) were improved. The remaining patient was not implanted because of an intraoperative urethral injury and is considered a failed case (3.7%). He had instead an AUS implantation. Three patients (14.8%) needed PUB replacement.

CONCLUSION

The limited population of patients from both our centers who presented with persistent SUI after RP, despite sling placement, improved with PUB ProACT implantations without significant complications.

Surgical treatment of post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence in adult men: Report from the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence

AIMS

To report the recommendations of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI) on post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

METHODS

The 6th ICI committee on surgical treatment of urinary incontinence in men assessed and reviewed the outcomes of surgical therapy and updated the prior recommendations published in 2013. Articles from peer-reviewed journals, abstracts from scientific meetings, and literature searches by hand and electronically formed the basis of this review. The resulting guidelines were presented at the 2016 ICI meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

RESULTS

Voiding diary and pad tests are valuable for assessing quantity of leakage. Cystoscopy and/or urodynamics may be useful in guiding therapy depending on the type of incontinence and presumed etiology. Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS) is the preferred treatment for men with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after RP. Male slings are an acceptable approach for men with mild to moderate SUI. Much discussion centers on the definition of moderate SUI. Injectable agents have a poor success rate in men with SUI. Options for recurrent SUI due to urethral atrophy after AUS implantation include changing the pressure balloon, downsizing the cuff and increasing the amount of fluid in the system. Infection and/or erosion demand surgical removal or revision of all or part of the prosthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are several series reporting the outcomes of different surgical interventions for PPUI, there is still a need for prospective randomized clinical trials. Recommendations for future research include standardized workup and outcome measures, and complete reporting of adverse events at long-term.

Implantation of the argus sling in a hard-to-treat patient group with urinary stress incontinence

INTRODUCTION

Awareness of prostate cancer is growing in the Western population, and an increasing number of patients are being referred to prostate surgery. This is a significant contributor to male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Implantation of an artificial sphincter (AUS) is considered the gold standard treatment of SUI. This study investigates the role of minimally invasive treatment with the Argus sling in a heterogenic hard-to-treat patient group.

METHOD

The study was a retrospective follow-up study with patients as their own controls. Forty-one patients were enrolled and treated with the Argus sling. Patients enrolled had persisting SUI after prostate surgery for more than 12 months, despite conservative treatment. The pre-operative daily usage of pads and the 24 hours urinary leakage were compared to the post-operative findings. The primary goal was to achieve complete continence or a reduction of more than 50% in pad usage or urinary leakage.

RESULTS

In total, 71% of the 41 patients enrolled met our primary objective. Complete continence was obtained in 56%, and a reduction of 50% or more was obtained in an additional 15%.

CONCLUSION

This study has reproduced continence rates seen in previous studies, but in the hard-to-treat patients with urgency or formerly failed surgery, the continence rate was found to be inferior. The AUS has produced similar results and must still be considered the gold standard treatment of SUI, but the Argus sling is an alternative for patients who want a passive system or for patients not suitable for AUS.

The role of male slings in post prostatectomy incontinence: ICI-RS 2015

AIMS

Post prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence can significantly impact on quality of life and is bothersome for patients. The artificial urinary sphincter is still considered the gold standard surgical treatment. Male slings are an alternative surgical option and several designs are currently available. This review will focus on efficacy, adverse events, and mechanism of action of male slings. The context of this review was a proposal at the ICI-RS meeting 2015. Following synthesis of the evidence we address the question: does it matter how male slings work?

METHODS

The proposal lecture was reviewed and a comprehensive review of the literature undertaken utilising the PubMed database.

RESULTS

Male slings can be broadly divided into adjustable retropubic and suburethral transobturator slings. Male slings are efficacious and can improve quality of life. Adjustable retropubic slings appear to be compressive but studies suggest efficacy can be achieved without voiding dysfunction. Transobturator slings work by urethral compression and/or re-locating the urethral bulb. There is a recognized failure rate in all sling types and most studies suggest radiotherapy as a risk factor for failure. Adjustable slings have the ability to be altered to optimize continence or to prevent retention of urine. However, there appears to be a higher explantation rate in some of these systems.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to understand how male slings work and by doing so we are more reliably able to choose the appropriate sling, predict outcomes, and as a result counsel patients. Suggestions for future research are proposed.

36-month data for the AdVance XP® male sling: results of a prospective multicentre study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the AdVance XP^® sling (Boston Scientific, formerly American Medical Systems) in male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy in a prospective multicentre study, as in recent years several studies have shown the effectiveness and safety of the AdVance sling for treating male SUI and in 2010 the second-generation AdVance XP was introduced with several changes in the sling design and a new needle shape.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 115 patients were included. Patients with nocturnal UI, previous UI surgery, previous radiotherapy and a coaptive zone of <1 cm in the preoperative repositioning test were excluded. Postoperatively, a standardised 24-h pad test, quality-of-life scores [International Quality of Life score (IQOL) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire short form (ICIQ-UI SF)], visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) score, were performed. All patients with a 0-5 g pad test were defined as cured and improved with a reduction of urine loss of >50%. All others were classified as failures. Significance analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test.

RESULTS

The mean (median) preoperative urine loss in the 24-h pad test was 272.0 (272.0) g. After a follow-up of 3 months (114 patients), 64.9% of the patients were cured and 31.6% had an improved continence status. The mean urine loss decreased significantly to 34.9 g (P < 0.001), with a mean VAS score of 0.5, and mean PGI-I of 1.5. After a follow-up of 24 months (80 patients), 68.8% of the patients were cured and 22.5% had improved. The mean urine loss decreased significantly to 19.1 g (P < 0.001), with a mean VAS score of 0.3, and mean PGI-I of 1.5. After a follow-up of 36 months (47 patients), 66.0% of the patients were cured and 23.4% had improved. The mean urine loss decreased significantly to 21.8 g (P < 0.001), with a mean VAS score of 0.0, and mean PGI-I of 1.6. The mean IQOL and ICIQ-UI SF improved significantly (both P < 0.001) after 36 months. There were no significant postoperative changes in IIEF-5 and IPSS. No intraoperative and no long-term complications occurred. No erosion or explanations occurred.

CONCLUSION

The AdVance XP shows good and stable effectiveness and low complication rates even at a mid-term follow-up of up to 36 months.

Virtue male sling for post-prostatectomy stress incontinence: a prospective evaluation and mid-term outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Virtue^® male sling (Coloplast, Humlebaek, Denmark) in a cohort of patients affected by post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

All 29 consecutive patients treated with a Virtue male sling at our Institution between July 2012 and October 2013 were included in the present prospective, non-randomized study. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after surgery using a 24-h pad weight test, the International Consultation on Incontinence short-form questionnaire (ICIQ-SF), Urinary Symptom Profile (USP) questionnaire, a bladder diary, uroflowmetry and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) and Patient Global Impression of Severity questionnaires.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 65.5 years. A total of 72.4% of patients had preoperative mild incontinence (1-2 pads/day), while nine patients used 3-5 pads/day. There were a total of 17 complications, which occurred in 29 patients (58.6%); all were Clavien-Dindo grade I. At 12-month follow-up patients showed a significant improvement in 24-h pad test (128.6 vs 2.5 g), number of pads per day (2 vs 0), ICIQ-SF score (14.3 vs 0.9) and USP score for SUI (4 vs 0), and outcomes remained stable at 36 months. At last follow-up, the median score on the PGI-I questionnaire was 1 (very much better).

CONCLUSION

The Virtue male sling is an effective treatment option for low to moderate post-prostatectomy incontinence.

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF POST-PROSTATECTOMY INCONTINENCE

Post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) is a common and significant issue that can affect the quality of life in men who are undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. While some patients opt for conservative management of their incontinence, many elect to undergo surgical treatment as a result of the significant impact to quality of life. The most commonly employed surgical techniques to address PPI are placement of a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Currently, the AUS continues to serve as the gold standard for management, with robust data concerning longitudinal outcomes available. However, in recent years, the various methods to place the male sling have emerged as viable, less complex alternatives that avoid the need for pump manipulation. In the present review, we discuss these main surgical treatment modalities for PPI, and focus on the selection criteria that may influence appropriate operative stratification of PPI patients. Indeed, an individualised, comprehensive assessment of baseline urinary function, age, radiation, prior surgeries, functional status, and other comorbidities must be considered in the context of shared decision-making between the treatment provider and the patient in determining the optimal approach to managing PPI.

AB036. Evolution and advances in the field of male urinary incontinence: a review of urological prosthesis surgery

Objective

To provide a review of the various advances in the development of male continence therapy.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify published literature relevant to male continence treatment and urological prosthesis.

Results

Over the last decade, significant advances have been made in terms of designs and technology for male continence therapy. Over the last decade, synthetic slings for PPI have gained considerable popularity because of cost and its non-mechanical action, and has a role in mild to moderate stress incontinence. Artificial urinary sphincters and other urinary sphincteric-like devices remains the standard of care for severe incontinence, radiation-induced stress incontinence and in salvage surgery.

Conclusions

While the current urinary continence devices are largely effective in the carefully selected patient group, they treat the symptoms but do not address the underlying pathophysiology of stress incontinence. Until the emergence of a better engineered continence surgical device, and/or further success in stem cell or tissue engineering, significant challenges remain in the search for an ideal urinary continence device.

National study of utilization of male incontinence procedures

AIMS

We explored re-interventions and short and long term adverse events associated with procedures for male incontinence among Medicare beneficiaries.

METHODS

All inpatient and outpatient claims for a simple random sample of Medicare beneficiaries for 2000-2011 were queried to identify patients of interest. All male patients with an International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition (ICD-9) diagnosis code for stress incontinence or mixed incontinence were included. Artificial urinary sphincter recipients, patients who underwent a sling operation and those receiving an injection of a bulking agent were identified with Current Procedure Terminology (CPT-4) and ICD-9 Procedure Codes.

RESULTS

The entire cohort of 1,246 patients were operated on between 2001 and 2011. 34.9% of them received an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), 28.7% with a bulking agent, and 36.4% with a sling. There were no statistically significant differences in demographics or comorbidities between the treatment groups, except that more sling patients were obese (P = 0.006) and fewer bulk patients had diabetes (P = 0.007). There are, however, significant changes in procedures selected over time (P < 0.001). In the first year and over the entire follow-up after surgery, patients treated with bulking agents had the most subsequent interventions (40.1% and 52.9%), followed by sling (10.4% and 15.5%), and AUS (2.3% and 20%) (P < 0.001). Post-operative and 90 day complications were low.

CONCLUSIONS

All three treatments seem to be safe among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple comorbidities. The urological, infectious, and neurological complication occurrences were low.

Post-prostatectomy incontinence: Etiology, evaluation, and management

Urinary incontinence after prostatectomy or radiation is a devastating problem in men and remains the most feared complication following the treatment of localized prostate cancer. With an increasing number of radical prostatectomies performed globally for prostate cancer, the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life assumes an even greater importance. With the advent of male sling procedures, more men are now seeking treatment for incontinence. Since the introduction of the artificial urinary sphincter almost four decades ago, several surgical procedures have emerged to manage post-prostatectomy incontinence, including the male sling for milder forms of incontinence. Several of the newer procedures have shown promise in the United States; many others have been developed and utilized in other parts of the world, though they have not yet gained FDA approval in the United States. The present review seeks to illuminate the etiology, evaluation, and management of post-prostatectomy incontinence. An effort has been made to provide an algorithm to clinicians for appropriate surgical management. The surgical techniques of commonly performed procedures and their outcomes are described.

Evaluation and surgical management of intrinsic sphincter deficiency after radical prostatectomy

Urinary incontinence following prostatectomy is usually due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency and is often referred to as post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI). The male sling is an effective minimally invasive procedure for low volume PPI. Although the male sling procedure is becoming increasingly popular, the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) remains the gold standard. Placement of the AUS cuff using the transcorporal technique salvages patients with urethral atrophy as well as prior AUS erosion or infection. As the surgical options for PPI expand, it is important to analyze the outcomes with contemporary surgical techniques and to develop an algorithm for procedure selection.