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PURPOSE To evaluate long-term functional outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter implantation in men for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent artificial urinary sphincter implant for non-neurogenic stress urinary incontinence between June 1989 and January 2020 were included in this single-centre retrospective series. All patients with a functional artificial urinary sphincter in situ were contacted to evaluate long-term functional outcomes using validated questionnaires. RESULTS A total of 263 patients were included in this retrospective series with a mean follow-up of 61 months. Explant-free survival after 5 years was 75% with a median time to explant of 16.2 years. Revision-free implant survival was 62% after 5 years with a median revision-free implant survival rate of 10.8 years. Previous pelvic irradiation, history of stricture disease and previous artificial urinary sphincter implant were associated with decreased implant survival. Overall social continence rate after 5 years was 60%. Prior radiation therapy, anticoagulation therapy and previous anti-incontinence surgery were associated with a higher incontinence risk. On long-term evaluation of 158 patients with their artificial urinary sphincter currently in situ, 51% were socially continent and 29% reported they were totally dry. Of these patients, 92% indicated to be satisfied with their current continence status. CONCLUSION A significant proportion of patients undergoing artificial urinary sphincter implant incontinence needed revision or explant surgery. Long-term continence rates are acceptable but tend to decrease by time. Nonetheless, if patients can maintain a functional AUS in situ, long-term patient satisfaction rates remain high.

To assess the efficacy and safety of intradetrusor botulinum toxin type A injections (IBTI) for idiopathic overactive bladder (iOAB) in non-neurological adults with an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). We retrospectively selected, in the 11 French centers, members of a collaborative network (GENULF (Groupe d’etude de neuro-urologie de langue francaise)), the patients who had had an artificial urinary sphincter implantation and who had subsequently developed iOAB requiring IBTI. This study was approved by the French association of urology ethics committee (no 2018012). Between 2006 and 2020, 33 patients were included from 5 French centers. Mean follow-up after the first IBTI was 47 months. The average age of the studied population was 68 years, with 70% of females. A complete resolution of symptoms at optimal IBTI dose was experienced by 21 (64%) patients. Seven (21%) patients had partial improvement. Five non-responder patients (15%) had no improvement at all. Maximum cystometric bladder capacity was 240 ml pre-IBTI and 335 ml post IBTI. Discontinuation free survival at 60 months was 50%. Two erosions occurred during the 6 months following an IBTI both in male patients with a perineal implantation. There were four AUS balloon perforations that occurred during the 6 months following an IBTI, all of them in female patients. IBTI has a good efficacy for the treatment of iOAB in patients with an AUS. However, both patients and practicians must be aware of the risk of rare and usually mild complications.

To compare transcorporal vs bulbar artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in men with fragile urethra and to investigate the risk factors of AUS explantation in this population. The charts of all male patients who had an AUS implantation between 2004 and 2020 in 16 centers were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was device explantation-free survival. Only patients with a fragile urethra were included in the present analysis. Fragile urethra was defined as a urethra carrying a high risk of cuff erosion because of prior radiotherapy and/or history of AUS explantation and/or history of urethral stricture surgery. The patients were divided in two groups according to the implantation site: bulbar vs transcorporal. 464 patients were included for analysis. 88 patients underwent a transcorporal AUS implantation and 376 underwent a bulbar AUS implantation. Explantation-free survival was similar in both groups (estimated 5-year explantation free survival rates 55.3% vs. 58.4%; p=0.98). In the subgroup of patients with a history of previous AUS explantation, transcorporal approach tended to bring longer explantation-free survival (2-year explantation-free survival: 61.9% vs. 58.2%; p=0.096). In multivariate analysis, the only risk factor of shorter explantation-free survival was the history of previous AUS explantation (HR=2.65; p=0.01). Transcorporal AUS implantation was not associated with longer explantation-free survival. History of previous AUS explantation was the only risk factor associated with shorter explantation-free survival and this subgroup of patients may be the only one to draw benefits of transcorporal AUS implantation.

Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in female patients results in high satisfaction rates and high functional outcomes, but implantation can be challenging and explantation of the device is fairly common. The objective of this study was to review outcomes after AUS explantation in women. This is a retrospective, monocentric study of all women who underwent open or laparoscopic AUS implantation between November 1994 and July 2019, and patients with AUS explantation were included. Management after AUS explantation using descriptive analysis was assessed. Over a span of 26 years, 111 women had an AUS implanted by a single surgeon. Of these surgeries, 35 explantations in 29 patients were later required: 20 initial AUSs, nine revised AUSs and six reimplanted AUS (rAUSs). The median time to explantation was 15.5 month (± 0.55). After explantation, 13 rAUSs in 10 patients were successful and two attempts failed. The median time between explantation and rAUS was 8 months (± 0.95). At the last follow-up, five patients still had their rAUS and six rAUSs had required explantation after a median time of 6.5 months (± 0.65). Surgery was still possible for 12 patients who did not have a rAUS: three cystectomies, one bladder neck closure with continent urinary diversion, and six mid-urethral slings or adjustable continence therapy balloon implantations. Among the 23 patients who did not need a cystectomy or a bladder neck closure with continent urinary diversion, four were completely dry (17.4%), 11 were improved (47.8%), and eight (34.8%) experienced unchanged incontinence with the post-explantation management. Limitations include retrospective design, heterogeneous management over time and a relatively small population of patients in our cohort. Reimplantation of an AUS after an explantation seems feasible after at least 6 months. However, the surgery will be more difficult and satisfaction is not guaranteed. Multicenter databases should be created to help surgeons and patients decide on appropriate management strategies after explantation of an AUS.

Although artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) has become an established treatment for moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI), implantation can be challenging. This study aimed to review the outcomes of laparoscopic AUS (LAUS) implantation and revision in women presenting with SUI. We reviewed the files of female patients presenting with moderate to severe SUI treated with LAUS implantation from October 2007 to July 2017. Surgeries were performed by one surgeon experienced in open AUS implantation and starting LAUS implantation. The primary endpoint was postoperative urinary continence, which was divided into three categories: complete continence, improved continence, and unchanged incontinence. The secondary outcomes were complications, explantation-free and revision-free time. A total of 49 women (mean age 64 years, range 40–80) had LAUS implantation. Among the 42 patients (85.7%) with an AUS in place at the last follow-up, 25 (59.5%) were fully continent, 16 (38.1%) had improved continence, and 1 (2.4%) had unchanged incontinence. At the last follow-up, 29 (59.2%) patients had their initial AUS and 13 (26.5%) had at least one reintervention. There were 9 (18.4%) intraoperative complications and 25 (51%) postoperative complications, of which 9 (18.4%) were Clavien⩾3. After a median follow-up of 4 years, 9 (18.4%) explantations and 11 (22.5%) revisions occurred. The average period without explantation or revision was 3.7 and 3.1 years, respectively. Our study shows that the laparoscopic approach for AUS implantation is an efficient treatment option for women with moderate to severe SUI.

Robotic surgical technology has the potential to broaden the applicability of minimally invasive approaches into more complex, technically challenging inguinal hernia repairs. A unique patient population requiring inguinal hernia repair are those patients who either have artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) or inguinal bladder herniation (IBH). Traditionally, these patients have not been considered candidates for minimally invasive inguinal hernia repairs. Through this retrospective series, we aim to contribute to the growing body of literature on robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) by describing our experience with RIHR in this patient subset. We performed a retrospective chart review of RIHR cases performed from June 2017 to April 2019 by a single surgeon at our university-affiliated community hospital. Charts were reviewed for preoperative considerations, operative complications, and postoperative outcomes. A total of three patients with an AUS and six patients with IBH were included, all of whom were male. All the patients received transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approaches, and all received placement of mesh. There were no intraoperative complications and no conversions to open surgery. Postoperatively, one patient with IBH had persistent surgical site pain that resolved after 3 weeks and one patient, also with IBH, had a surgical site seroma that resolved without further intervention. Mean follow-up time was 10.71 and 12.13 months for patients with AUS and IBH, respectively. No patients reported hernia recurrence during this time. This review suggests that the use of robotic assistance for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is safe and effective and may provide additional benefits for patients with concurrent urological considerations such as AUS and IBH.

To report the outcomes of AUS in women with neurological SUI resulting from intrinsic sphincter deficiency after a follow-up from 3 to 20 years. The charts of female with moderate to severe neurological SUI who underwent open or laparoscopic AUS implantation between November 1994 and July 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were operated by a single experienced surgeon. Primary endpoint was a postoperative continence categorized as complete continence (no pads used), improved incontinence or unchanged incontinence. Twenty-three women (mean age 54 years, range 19–77) underwent open or laparoscopic AUS implantation. At the last follow-up, 7 (30.4%) initial artificial urinary sphincters remained in situ and 9 (39.1%) patients had at least one revision or reimplantation. Sixteen patients were fully continent (69.6%), four (17.4%) had improved incontinence and three (13.0%) had unchanged incontinence. After a median follow-up of 11.6 years (3–22), 8 (34.8%) explanations in 7 patients and 16 (69.6%) revisions in 11 patients occurred. The average time without explanation or revision was 10.9 and 8.5 years, respectively. Survival rates without AUS explanation were 94.4%, 76.5%, 72.8%, 50% and without revision were 83.3%, 64.7%, 45.5% and 16.7% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively. Although all methods are imperfect at best, AUS remain toward our experience a good way to achieve long-term continence in female patients suffering from neurological SUI with preserved manual dexterity.

To evaluate the determinants and prognostic value of post-operative maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) after AUS implantation in male patients. The charts of all male patients who had an AUS implantation between 2008 and 2018 at a single center were reviewed retrospectively for an exploratory study. A post-operative urethral profilometry was performed systematically as part of routine daily practice over the study period to assess the post-operative MUCP with the AUS consecutively closed (c-MUCP) and opened (o-MUCP). The difference between c-MUCP and the manufacturer’s theoretical pressure objective determined by the pressure regulating balloon (PRB) was calculated (diff-th-MUCP). The primary endpoint was social continence at 3 months defined as 0–1 protection/day. Ninety patients were included. The median age was 71 years, and the median follow-up was 50 months. The etiology of incontinence was radical prostatectomy in 84% of cases, and endoscopic prostate surgery in 6.6% of patients. There were 74.4% of patients who were socially continent at 3 months. The c-MCUP was significantly higher in the continent group (53 [42.2, 60.2] vs 62 [58, 70] p = 0.02). The diff-th-MUCP did not differ significantly between the two groups (18 [0, 23] vs 1 [− 2, 7.7] p = 0.29). The c-MUCP was not statistically associated with the risk of revision and/or explantation. The MUCP after AUS implantation in male patients often differs from the manufacturer’s pressure objective. The postoperative c-MUCP might be significantly associated with functional outcomes suggesting that it might be a valuable tool for treatment decision-making. This should be confirmed by larger studies.

Refractory urinary incontinence after channel transurethral resection of the prostate (cTURP) (TURP in the setting of prostate cancer) is a rare occurrence treated with artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). We sought to characterize those patients receiving AUS after cTURP and understand device longevity. We identified patients who underwent cTURP and AUS placement in SEER-Medicare from 2002 to 2014. We analyzed factors affecting device longevity using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. We performed propensity matching to accurately compare patients receiving AUS after cTURP to those receiving AUS after radical prostatectomy (RP). For patients undergoing cTURP, 201 out of 56,957 ultimately underwent AUS placement (

Introduction Adjustable transobturator male system (ATOMS) is a surgical device developed to treat male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after prostate surgery. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the ATOMS device to treat male SUI as described in the literature. Methods Two independent reviewers identified studies eligible for a systematic review and meta-analysis of various sources written in English, German and Spanish, using the databases PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. We excluded studies on female incontinence. We employed the DerSimonian and Laird method for defining heterogeneity, calculating the grouped standard mean deviation (SMD). The primary objective of this review is the assessment of clinical efficacy based on the achievement of dryness after device adjustment, defined as use of no pad or one safety pad per day (PPD). The secondary objective was focused on analysing improvement of incontinence with the device. Magnitude of effect was calculated by analysing decrease in pad count (PPD) and/or in 24-h pad test. Number and severity of complications according to Clavien–Dindo classification were also reviewed. Results The pooled data of 1393 patients from 20 studies (13 retrospective and 7 prospective) showed that treatment with ATOMS resulted in a mean 67% dryness rate and 90% improvement after adjustment. Mean total number of system fillings per patient was 2.4. Mean pad count and 24-h pad test decrease were − 4.14 PPD and − 443 cc, respectively. There is significant heterogeneity of the sample analysed, mainly based on variable baseline severity of incontinence, proportion of patients treated with irradiation and different generation devices. Proportion of irradiated patients affected dryness rate (p = 0.0014), together with baseline severity of incontinence (p = 0.0035) and different generation device used (p

To analyze and compare preoperative patient characteristics and postoperative results in men with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) selected for an adjustable male sling system or an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in a large, contemporary, multi-institutional patient cohort. 658 male patients who underwent implantation between 2010 and 2012 in 13 participating institutions were included in this study (n = 176 adjustable male sling; n = 482 AUS). Preoperative patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. For statistical analysis, the independent T test and Mann–Whitney U test were used. Patients undergoing adjustable male sling implantation were less likely to have a neurological disease (4.5% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.021), a history of urethral stricture (21.6% vs. 33.8%, p = 0.024) or a radiation therapy (22.7% vs. 29.9%, p = 0.020) compared to patients that underwent AUS implantation. Mean pad usage per day (6.87 vs. 5.82; p

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), the involuntary urine leakage due to failure of the urethral closure mechanism, is a global health challenge with substantial human suffering and socioeconomic costs. Approximately 167 million male and female patients are predicted to suffer from SUI in 2018, worldwide. A wide range of surgical interventions are available for the treatment of SUI. Severe cases, however, usually require the implantation of artificial urinary sphincter devices. This review comparatively presents and analyzes the working principles, as well as the challenges, associated with the current implantable SUI systems in clinical use. These include slings, urethral bulking agents, artificial urinary sphincters, and adjustable continence devices. It further reports on recent research progress and state-of-the-art in the field of SUI implants, including an original approach proposed by the authors with a pressure feedback sensory mechanism. The new emerging field of artificial muscle devices, including electroactive polymers, provides a promising innovative solution for replacing the weakened urethral sphincter in SUI patients.

Most aspects of surgical therapy for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy (RP) are under debate or poorly studied. A systematic review was conducted and a literature search was carried out through PubMed database for articles on the surgical procedures for male SUI after RP published from Jan 2010 to Nov 2016. The efficacy results (pad count, 24 h pad test), complications, and quality of life (QoL) were reported. The included studies were categorized in accordance with the IDEAL framework of surgical innovation. Only Stage 0-2 IDEAL studies were revealed by systematic review of the literature. Randomized and long-term trials are missing. The current evidence on male SUI therapy is low. IDEAL-conform evaluation of new therapies should be applied in the future.

Urinary incontinence is a largely spread disfunction that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. At present, no technological solutions are able to restore continence in a minimally invasive and effective way. In this article the authors report the design, fabrication, and testing of a novel artificial endourethral urinary sphincter able to fully restore continence. The device can be inserted/retracted in a minimally invasive fashion without hospital admission, does not alter the body scheme and can be applied to both women and men. The device core is a unidirectional polymeric valve and a magnetically activated system able to modulate its opening pressure. Bench tests and ex vivo tests on a human cadaver demonstrated that the device is able to fully restore continence and to allow urination when desired. Overall, the proposed system shows a high potential as a technological solution able to restore a normal daily life in patients affected by urinary incontinence.

Male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can significantly diminish quality of life and lead to embarrassment and social withdrawal. Surgical therapies, such as male urethral slings and artificial urinary sphincters (AUS), are considered effective and safe treatments for male SUI. Our objective is to evaluate 30-day complications in patients undergoing male slings and AUS placement from a national multicenter database. Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality of Improvement Program for 2008–2013 were used to identify patients who underwent male slings and AUS implantation. Trained coders abstracted complication data from the patient record independent of the surgical team. We compared 30-day postoperative complications for male slings and AUS. We examined the relationship between patient factors and complication rates for each procedure type. Overall, 1205 incontinence surgeries in men were identified: 597 male sling placements and 608 AUS implantations. Male sling placement had a lower 30-day postoperative complication rate compared to AUS (2.8 vs. 5.1 %, p = 0.046). Compared to AUS, male sling was associated with fewer urinary tract infections (0.3 vs. 2.0 %, p = 0.020) and return trips to the operating room (1.0 vs. 3.0 %, p

To analyze efficacy and safety for the ZSI375 artificial urinary sphincter in a multicenter case series. Thirteen male patients with stress urinary incontinence underwent implantation of a ZSI375 artificial urinary sphincter device between 2010 and 2012 in three international continence reference centers. Perioperative characteristics and postoperative complications were analyzed using the Clavien–Dindo scale. Re-hospitalization and explantation rates, and functional outcome were assessed. Inner-group and between-group differences were analyzed using Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney U, and Fisher’s exact test whenever indicated. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to assess device survival. A p value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There were no intraoperative complications. Median follow-up was 13.5 months. In this period, four device defects (30.8 %) could be observed, being the main cause for device explantation, followed by device infection (15.4 %), non-resolvable pain (7.7 %), and urethral erosion (7.7 %). There were no Clavien IV or Clavien V complications. Overall explantation rate was 61.5 %. Mean time-to-explantation was 279 ± 308 days. There was no significant influence of previous irradiation and previous invasive incontinence therapy (p = 0.587 and p = 0.685, respectively). Mean daily pad usage decreased from 5.8 ± 1.5 to 2.4 ± 2.1 (p = 0.066). One patient (7.7 %) did not use any pads. Social continence (0–1 pads) was achieved in 15.4 % of the patients. This is the most current study that is investigating the outcome after ZSI375 implantation in a multicenter case series. Based on our results, explantation rates after ZSI375 implantation are high and efficacy rates seem lower than previously described. Addressing this high failure rate, the system has undergone a two-step modification in the meantime.

Background Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a frequent adverse effect for men undergoing prostate surgery. A large proportion (around 8% after radical prostatectomy and 2% after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP)) are left with severe disabling incontinence which adversely effects their quality of life and many are reliant on containment measures such as pads (27% and 6% respectively). Surgery is currently the only option for active management of the problem. The overwhelming majority of surgeries for persistent bothersome SUI involve artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) insertion. However, this is expensive, and necessitates manipulation of a pump to enable voiding. More recently, an alternative to AUS has been developed – a synthetic sling for men which elevates the urethra, thus treating SUI. This is thought, by some, to be less invasive, more acceptable and less expensive than AUS but clear evidence for this is lacking. The MASTER trial aims to determine whether the male synthetic sling is non-inferior to implantation of the AUS for men who have SUI after prostate surgery (for cancer or benign disease), judged primarily on clinical effectiveness but also considering relative harms and cost-effectiveness. Methods/design Men with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) after prostate surgery, for whom surgery is judged appropriate, are the target population. We aim to recruit men from secondary care urological centres in the UK NHS who carry out surgery for post-prostatectomy incontinence. Outcomes will be assessed by participant-completed questionnaires and 3-day urinary bladder diaries at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. The 24-h urinary pad test will be used at baseline as an objective assessment of urine loss. Clinical data will be completed at the time of surgery to provide details of the operative procedures, complications and resource use in hospital. At 12 months, men will also have a clinical review to evaluate the results of surgery (including another 24-h pad test) and to identify problems or need for further treatment. Discussion A robust examination of the comparative effectiveness of the male synthetic sling will provide high-quality evidence to determine whether or not it should be adopted widely in the NHS. Trial registration International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Registry: Number ISRCTN49212975. Registered on 22 July 2013. First patient randomised on 29 January 2014. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2501-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Type III stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is generally defined as a condition that involves intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). Although the clinical parameters for ISD are loosely defined as a Valsalva leak-point pressure

As the subsequent risks of complications and explantation increase with the size of the cuff, we aimed to assess functional outcomes after the implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) with a large cuff (≥8 cm) in women with severe urinary incontinence.Fifty women underwent an AUS placement with a large cuff between 1984 and 2007. Forty-three (86%) had previously undergone anti-incontinence procedures. The AUS was implanted with an open surgical technique using a transverse abdominal approach. The cuff was placed around the bladder neck between the periurethral fascia and the vagina. Perioperative complications were reviewed. To assess the resolution of urinary incontinence, all patients were seen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and yearly thereafter.The mean age was 59 ± 12.4 years (26-81). The mean BMI was 27.3 ± 5.1 (19-37). The mean pre-operative closure pressure was 19.1 ± 9.4 cmH(2)O (3-46). The mean hospital stay was 14.1 ± 5 days (5-28). The mean follow-up was 8 ± 5.6 years. Incontinence was completely resolved in 34 women (68%). The protective factors to avoid explantation were a number of gestations less than two (p = 0.04), a closure pressure higher than 19 cmH(2)O (p = 0.04) and a cuff size equivalent to 8 cm (p = 0.005).Specific anatomical conditions can sometimes lead to AUS implantation with a large cuff with encouraging outcomes. Thus, surgeons should not be reluctant to place a large cuff when the situation requires it.

The role of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) as salvage option following failed anti-incontinence surgery is unclear.Database review and telephone survey were conducted to review patient satisfaction, surgical outcomes, device failure and revision rates.A total of 29 female patients received AUS following failed anti-incontinence surgeries. Five (17%) AUS devices were explanted due to AUS erosion or infection. Thirteen AUS revisions were made and device malfunction accounted for 95% of the cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed more than 90% of AUS malfunction occurred less than 100 months from the time of implant. There was a significant decrease in pad use (3.6 to 0.2 pads per day; p0.01). The continence rate with no pad use was 70% and this increases to 83% in patients wearing one precautionary pad.AUS is a safe, durable and effective salvage option for females with previous failed anti-incontinent surgeries.

The diagnosis and management of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is complex. Various etiologies exist, with radical prostatectomy being the most common cause in men seeking treatment. SUI in this setting is often temporary and resolves within the first postoperative year. Therefore, it is important to understand the natural history of male SUI before initiating treatment. Generally, the initial management of SUI that persists after 12 months consists of conservative measures, such as pelvic floor muscle exercises. Several treatments are available for men whose continence does not improve after pelvic floor muscle exercises. In order of increasing complexity they are urethral bulking agents, male slings, and the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). With over 30 years of published data suggesting excellent long-term outcomes, the AUS is considered the gold standard treatment of male SUI. Male slings have recently demonstrated efficacy for selected patients and are likely to be used more often in the future as experience with these devices grows.

Stress urinary incontinence in men is usually a result of intrinsic sphincter deficiency following prostate cancer surgery. Active conservative management with fluid restriction, medication management and pelvic floor exercises is indicated for the first 12 months. If bothersome incontinence persists, urodynamic evaluation is indicated in order to assess detrusor storage function, contractility and sphincteric integrity. Standard surgical options include urethral bulking agents, artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and male sling. Periurethral injection of bulking agents is satisfactory in only a minority of patients, leaving AUS and male sling as the most common surgical treatments. In patients with severe urinary incontinence, AUS seems to have a higher rate of success than the male sling. Furthermore, AUS is indicated in men with detrusor hypocontractility as adequate detrusor contractility is needed to overcome the fixed resistance of the sling. In patients with milder levels of stress incontinence, the two techniques have approximately equal efficacy in the short-to-intermediate term. While current reports of the male sling are generally limited to 1-4 years' follow-up, the infection, erosion, and revision rate for the male sling seem somewhat lower than that for the AUS in appropriately chosen patients.

Despite major improvement in surgical techniques for radical pelvic surgery, including radical prostatectomy, major quality-of-life issues persist, such as postoperative erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. These two conditions have many common etiologies and often occur in the same patient. Patients with either of these conditions fail initial conservative or minimally invasive therapy and become candidates for prosthetic implants, such as artificial urinary sphincter and penile prosthesis. In the past three decades, there have been significant improvements in the mechanical properties of these devices, their functional capabilities, and surgical implantation techniques. Studies once suggested that implantation of both devices in one patient could lead to failure, but recent literature proves that patients benefit from simultaneous dual implantation. Specific benefits relate to shorter surgery time, with potentially lower infection rates. In this manuscript, we review the indications, techniques, merits, and safety of simultaneous dual implantation of the artificial urinary sphincter and penile prosthesis in the post-radical prostatectomy patient.

The artificial urinary sphincter is an effective tool for urinary incontinence that is being seen in more patients because of the increased numbers of artificial sphincters being implanted and increased patient lifespan. If a patient with an artificial urinary sphincter is catheterized without manipulation of the artificial sphincter, serious irreversible complications may result. All of these complications are easily preventable by physician and nurse awareness of the artificial urinary sphincter and knowledge of how it works. Therefore, it is important for every physician to be knowledgeable about the artificial urinary sphincter.

This article provides a comprehensive and updated review of the current nonautologous sling materials available for treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The various materials are described, relevant clinical studies are dis-cussed, and newer materials are outlined. Complications arising from use of different materials also are described.

The etiology of stress incontinence is not completely understood. In the past, bladder neck suspensions were performed to correct anatomic abnormalities of the bladder neck and urethral hypermobility. This procedure was attractive because of its simplicity, low morbidity, and excellent early success rate. With time, the successes seen with bladder neck suspensions have not proven to be durable, and alternative surgical procedures have been developed. Until recently, the indications for bladder neck suspension were types I and II stress incontinence; slings were reserved for type III incontinence. However, slings have been shown to be as effective as and more durable than bladder neck suspensions for treatment of all types of stress incontinence; therefore, their popularity has spread. The success of distal urethral slings suggests that it is not necessary to correct anatomic hypermobility to correct stress incontinence. A plethora of new procedures and materials has emerged, leading to an increased need for well-controlled, objective outcome studies in order to understand the impact of these surgeries on our patients.

The objective of this retrospective case control study was to determine whether our poor surgical outcomes were associated with the material used to construct our pubovaginal slings. Autologous rectus fascia was used in 33 patients and cadaveric fascia lata was used in 12 patients who underwent pubovaginal sling placement for intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency (ISD). Treatment was successful in 78.8% and 33.3% of patients who underwent rectus fascia and fascia lata allograft slings, respectively (P=0.006). Based on regression analysis, the sling material was found to be strongly associated with surgical outcome after controlling for all confounding variables (beta coefficient = 1,204.6, P0.00005). We conclude that fascia lata allografts are a poor choice for pubovaginal slings.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life of the Reliance urinary control insert (Uromed Corp., Needham, MA) in women with genuine stress incontinence. Efficacy was evaluated at baseline and at the end of the 12-month study period by standardized pad-weight studies and by rating scales measuring acceptability, incontinence symptom improvement, ease of learning, comfort and time to habituation, recorded in diaries at monthly intervals in 63 women. The SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire was used to assess quality of life status at baseline without the device and after 12 months of device use. A significant decrease in urine loss at 12 months compared with baseline was shown by standardized pad-weight studies, with and without the device in situ. Urine loss was reduced by more than 80% in 91% of the 63 patients, and 79% were completely dry. Patient diaries showed significant improvement in control of leakage, comfort, and ease of device use during the study period. Short-term-36 Health Status data also indicated significant improvement in the physical functioning score at 12 months. Urinary tract infection and hematuria were the most common adverse effects. The Reliance urinary control insert is an efficacious and safe means of controlling genuine stress incontinence in women. The device was perceived as easy to use and comfortable for these 63 women, and resulted in improved quality of life.

Female urinary incontinence is a common problem. Among the many treatment options a few patients may be suitable candidates for the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). The indications for placement of an AUS are much more common in males: however, we review the indications, technique and potential complications of the AUS in the female population. Although few indications exist for the placement of an AUS in women, if proper patient selection is made, with strict adherence to proper surgical technique, it can be a suitable treatment option for those suffering from sphincteric incontinence.

There are many surgical options to correct sphincteric incontinence. The choice should take account of clinical features, urodynamic data and operation characteristics. Success should be evaluated both subjectively and objectively and it is desirable to have at least a two year follow-up. It is necessary to be aware of the complications of each procedure. Where new techniques are described it is important to use objective outcome measures.

There are numerous therapeutic options for treating incontinence. Implantation of an artificial genitourinary sphincter is an excellent choice in cases of incontinence due to sphincteric dysfunction. In this article we report the Mayo Clinic data from several large series and compare these data to other recent reviews. In addition, we review current recommendations regarding patient selection and evaluation. There were 458 patients who underwent implantation of an artificial sphincter, including 417 men and 41 women. The overall continence rate was 88.2%, the reoperation rate was 23.1%, and the mechanical reliability was 88%. Satisfaction rates were greater than 90%. We conclude that artificial sphincter implantation is safe, reliable and very effective in treating incontinence due to sphincteric dysfunction in properly selected patients.

Study design: Case report of an unusual use of AMS 800 (American Medical Systems, Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota) artificial urinary sphincter cuff in a female patient affected by neurogenic urinary incontinence. Objective: To describe this rare surgical solution. Setting: Department of Urology in Italy. Methods: A 43-year-old woman affected by flaccid paraplegia, acontractile bladder and incompetent bladder neck, underwent an implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800. After 7 years, a mechanical failure of the device occurred and pubovaginal sling (PVS) utilizing the cuff of the sphincter was employed due to the poor quality of rectus fascia and the development of previous allergy for some heterologous materials. Results: At 17 months follow-up, the patient is contnent and able to empty the bladder by clean intermittent self-catheterization (CIC). Conclusion: The risk of developing an allergy reaction due to the employment of heterologous materials and the impossibility to use the rectus fascia obliged us to adopt the pre-existent cuff of the artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800.

For the man suffering from urinary incontinence following prostatectomy, two surgical options are currently available: the bulbous urethral sling and the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). The authors discuss the literature for the two techniques, and explain why they believe AUS implantation is the preferred option in this patient population.