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Purpose This study investigated the functional outcomes and complication rates of cuff downsizing for the treatment of recurrent or persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in men after the implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Methods Data from our institutional AUS database spanning the period from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The number of pads per day was determined, a standardized quality of life (QoL) questionnaire and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) were administered, and postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification were analyzed. Results Out of 477 patients who received AUS implantation during the study period, 25 (5.2%) underwent cuff downsizing (median age, 77 years; interquartile range [IQR], 74–81 years; median follow-up, 4.4 years; IQR, 3–6.9 years). Before downsizing, SUI was very severe (ICIQ score 19–21) or severe (ICQ score 13–18) in 80% of patients, moderate (ICIQ score 6–12) in 12%, and slight (ICIQ score 1–5) in 8%. After downsizing, 52% showed an improvement of >5 out of 21 points. However, 28% still had very severe or severe SUI, 48% had moderate SUI, and 20% had slight SUI. One patient no longer had SUI. In 52% of patients, the use of pads per day was reduced by ≥50%. QoL improved by >2 out of 6 points in 56% of patients. Complications (infections/urethral erosions) requiring device explantation occurred in 36% of patients, with a median time to event of 14.5 months. Conclusions Although cuff downsizing carries a risk of AUS explantation, it can be a valuable treatment option for selected patients with persistent or recurrent SUI after AUS implantation. Over half of patients experienced improvements in symptoms, satisfaction, ICIQ scores, and pad use. It is important to inform patients about the potential risks and benefits of AUS to manage their expectations and assess individual risks.

Purpose: This study investigated the functional outcomes and complication rates of cuff downsizing for the treatment of recurrent or persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in men after the implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Methods: Data from our institutional AUS database spanning the period from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The number of pads per day was determined, a standardized quality of life (QoL) questionnaire and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) were administered, and postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification were analyzed. Results: Out of 477 patients who received AUS implantation during the study period, 25 (5.2%) underwent cuff downsizing (median age, 77 years; interquartile range [IQR], 74-81 years; median follow-up, 4.4 years; IQR, 3-6.9 years). Before downsizing, SUI was very severe (ICIQ score 19-21) or severe (ICQ score 13-18) in 80% of patients, moderate (ICIQ score 6-12) in 12%, and slight (ICIQ score 1-5) in 8%. After downsizing, 52% showed an improvement of >5 out of 21 points. However, 28% still had very severe or severe SUI, 48% had moderate SUI, and 20% had slight SUI. One patient no longer had SUI. In 52% of patients, the use of pads per day was reduced by =50%. QoL improved by >2 out of 6 points in 56% of patients. Complications (infections/urethral erosions) requiring device explantation occurred in 36% of patients, with a median time to event of 14.5 months. Conclusions: Although cuff downsizing carries a risk of AUS explantation, it can be a valuable treatment option for selected patients with persistent or recurrent SUI after AUS implantation. Over half of patients experienced improvements in symptoms, satisfaction, ICIQ scores, and pad use. It is important to inform patients about the potential risks and benefits of AUS to manage their expectations and assess individual risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aim was to study the correlation between cuff size and outcome after implantation of an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. Methods A total of 473 male patients with an AMS 800 sphincter implanted between 2012 and 2014 were analyzed in a retrospective multicenter cohort study performed as part of the Central European Debates on Male Incontinence (DOMINO) Project. Results Single cuffs were implanted in 54.5% and double cuffs in 45.5% of the patients. The cuffs used had a median circumference of 4.5 cm. Within a median follow of 18 months, urethral erosion occurred in 12.8% of the cases and was associated significantly more often with small cuff sizes (P

Objectives: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the gold standard treatment for severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI). According to the literature, patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) or stroke (ST) show adverse continence outcomes after prostate surgery and, therefore, constitute a challenging cohort for continence surgery. However, little is known with respect to the results of AUS surgery in these patients. A retrospective analysis of our institutional, prospectively maintained AUS database aims to address this aspect with a focus on surgical and functional outcomes. Methods and Patients: All data of patients with an AUS implantation were prospectively collected in our database since 2009. The AUS was implanted according to a standardized protocol and activated at 6 weeks postoperatively at our institution. Further follow-up (FU) consisted of pad-test, uroflowmetry, residual urine, and radiography as well as a standardized questionnaire including the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire (I-Quol) and International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ-SF) and is scheduled at 6 and 24 months and every 2 years thereafter. Patients received a preoperative urodynamic evaluation (UD). Patients with normal voiding and storage function were considered for AUS implantation. All patients performed a preoperative test for manual dexterity. Patients with a history of ST or PD were grouped and compared to nonneurological patients. Primary/secondary endpoints of the study were complications/continence. Results: 234 patients were available for analysis. The median FU was 24 months (interquartile range 7–36). Twenty-four patients (10%) had a neurological history (PD and ST). Neurological patients showed significantly worse outcomes regarding continence (objective/subjective/social continence; p = 0.04/p = 0.02/p = 0.1). Significant differences concerning explantation rates were not observed (p = 1). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference regarding explantation-free survival (log-rank p = 0.53). Conclusion: AUS implantation shows significantly worse continence rates for neurological patients, despite the fact that all patients showed normal UD results and sufficient manual dexterity. Although neurological patients showed worse outcomes for continence, AUS implantation seems to be a safe and viable treatment for patients with a history of neurological disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether salvage artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation after prior incontinence surgery achieves outcomes comparable to primary AUS implantation. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data of patients undergoing AUS implantation from 2009 to 2014. Functional outcome was objectified by 1-h stress pad test, uroflowmetry, post-void residual urine measurement, clinical examination, and chart review. Complications were categorized according to Clavien–Dindo classification system. Kaplan–Meier analysis determined explantation-free survival. Results: A total of 235 patients were included of whom 165 (70.2%) underwent primary AUS. In 70 patients, salvage incontinence surgery was performed, with 24 (10.2%) patients undergoing AUS reimplantation after prior AUS surgery (repeat AUS) and 46 (19.6%) patients undergoing AUS surgery after any other type of incontinence surgery (secondary AUS). There were no significant differences in rates of continence among primary AUS and repeat AUS patients. Patients undergoing secondary AUS had significantly better continence rates than primary and repeat AUS patients. Three-year explantation-free survival rates after AUS insertion were 82.3% (primary AUS), 78.6% (repeat AUS) and 81.5% (secondary AUS). There were no differences in complication rates among the groups. Conclusion: AUS is a safe option in the treatment of severe incontinence even after prior AUS or any other prior incontinence surgery and can still achieve satisfactory outcomes as salvage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was to study the correlation between cuff size and outcome after implantation of an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. Methods: A total of 473 male patients with an AMS 800 sphincter implanted between 2012 and 2014 were analyzed in a retrospective multicenter cohort study performed as part of the Central European Debates on Male Incontinence (DOMINO) Project. Results: Single cuffs were implanted in 54.5% and double cuffs in 45.5% of the patients. The cuffs used had a median circumference of 4.5 cm. Within a median follow of 18 months, urethral erosion occurred in 12.8% of the cases and was associated significantly more often with small cuff sizes (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that, apart from cuff size (P=0.03), prior irradiation (P<0.001) and the penoscrotal approach (P=0.036) were associated with an increased erosion rate. Continence rate tended to be highest with median cuff sizes (4-5.5 cm). Conclusions: Apart from irradiation and the penoscrotal approach, small cuff size is a risk factor for urethral erosion. Results are best with cuff sizes of 4.5-5.5 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the treatment of choice for managing severe stress urinary incontinence. This hydromechanical implant mimics a healthy sphincter by exerting a constant circumferential pressure around the urethra to close it and keep urine in the bladder. Common complications experienced with this device are urethral atrophy, erosion, and mechanical breakdown. Furthermore, AUS operation requires some dexterity resulting in difficulty and discomfort of use, and limiting the implantation in some patients. We present in this study a novel remote-controlled electromechanic AUS allowing rapid and effortless sphincter operation. Its design eliminates the classic manual pump, enhancing reliability, easing implantation in men and women, and achieving compatibility with already-implanted AUS. The device has been tested in vitro and ex vivo on fresh pig bladders. Different occlusive cuff pressure (OCP) ranges were employed and expected performance was obtained. Experimentation results and design challenges are reported and discussed here in. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Severe stress urinary incontinence is a nonnegligible complication that affects men as well as women. When initial therapies are not sufficient, implantation of artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) is considered the gold standard treatment. This hydromechanical device applies constant pressure on the urethra to keep urine inside the bladder. Although recovery from incontinence is full or partial, this approach has certain disadvantages. In addition to the difficulties and discomfort encountered when operating the device, insufficient pressure, urethral atrophy, and erosion from constant pressure on the urethra may necessitate revision surgery. In this study, we present a novel, remote-controlled AUS with variable urethral pressure that improves continence and avoids revision surgery. The proposed design eliminates the manual pump, facilitating implantation in men and women. It is compatible with current AUS. The device requires very little power and its parameters can be monitored and updated post-operatively. It has been tested on pig bladders ex vivo. Different pressure control algorithms have been developed, and expected performances have been achieved. Design challenges and experimentation results are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Implantation of artificial urinary sphincters (AUSs) is considered to be the gold standard treatment in severe cases of stress urinary incontinence. The functioning of these implants is purely hydromechanical, as they apply constant pressure around the bulbous urethra. Common reasons for device revision are insufficient cuff pressure and, in contrast, urethral atrophy secondary to this constant pressure. Furthermore, functioning requires some dexterity, limiting their implantation in some patients. We present in this study a novel electronic AUS that offers the possibility of remotely controlling the sphincter rapidly and without mechanical effort. The implant's embedded software can also be updated remotely. Its design eliminates the manual pump, making implantation easier in men and women. Furthermore, it is compatible with already-implanted AUS and can be employed for treating other sphincter deficiencies. The device has been tested on a custom test bed and on pig bladders in vitro. Different occlusive cuff pressure ranges were employed and acceptable performance was obtained. Design challenges and results are reported and discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]