Impact of Radiation and Transcorporeal Artificial Sphincter Placement in Patients with Prior Urethral Cuff Erosion: Results from a Retrospective Multicenter Analysis

Natural History of Artificial Urinary Sphincter Erosion: Long-term Lower Urinary Tract Outcomes and Incontinence Management

OBJECTIVE

To describe long-term lower urinary tract outcomes and incontinence management after AUS erosion, including risk factors associated with each outcome.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained AUS database for men undergoing device explantation for urethral erosion from January 1, 1986 to October 10, 2023. Outcomes included development of urethral stricture and management of post-explant incontinence (eg, pads/clamp, catheter, salvage AUS, supravesical diversion). Risk factors were tested for association with stricture formation and repeat AUS erosion using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Around 1943 unique patients underwent AUS implantation during the study period, and 217 (11%) had a device explantation for urethral erosion. Of these, 194 had complete records available and were included for analysis. Median follow-up from implantation was 7.5 years (IQR 2.7-13.7) and median time to erosion was 2 yrs (IQR 0-6). Ninety-six patients (49%) underwent salvage AUS placement. Of those, 38/96 (40%) were explanted for subsequent erosion. On multivariable analysis, no factors were significantly associated with risk of salvage AUS erosion. On multivariable model, pelvic radiation (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.0-7.4) and urethral reapproximation during explant for erosion (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.5-11.2) were significantly associated with increased risk of urethral stricture (P <.05). At the time of last follow-up, 69/194 (36%) patients had a functioning salvage AUS, including both initial and subsequent salvage implants.

CONCLUSION

Following AUS erosion, radiation history and urethral reapproximation at explantation were risk factors for development of urethral stricture. Salvage AUS replacement can be performed, but has a higher rate of repeat urethral erosion.

Risk Factors for Artificial Urinary Sphincter Explantation and Erosion in Male Nonneurological Patients

PURPOSE

This study was performed to assess the risk factors for artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) explantation in a large multicenter cohort.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all 1,233 implantations of the AMS-800 AUS device in male nonneurological patients from 2005 to 2020 across 13 French centers. Patients with neurological conditions were excluded from the study. To identify factors associated with explantation-free survival, survival analysis was performed. Explantation was defined as the complete removal of the device, whereas revision referred to the replacement of the device or its components.

RESULTS

The study included 1,107 patients, of whom 281 underwent AUS explantation. The median survival without explantation was 83 months. The leading causes of explantation were infection and erosion. Univariate analysis revealed several significant risk factors for explantation: age above 75 years (34.6% in the explanted group vs. 25.8% in the nonexplanted group, P=0.007), history of radiotherapy (43.5% vs. 31.3%, P=0.001), and anticoagulant use (15% vs. 8.6%, P<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, the only significant risk factor was previous radiotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 2.05; P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed 2 factors associated with earlier explantation: transcorporal cuff implantation (hazard ratio [HR], 2.67; P=0.01) and the annual caseload of the center (HR, 1.08; P=0.02). When specifically examining explantation due to erosion, radiotherapy was the sole factor significantly associated with the risk of erosion (OR, 2.47; P<0.05) as well as earlier erosion (HR, 1.90; P=0.039).

CONCLUSION

In this series, conducted in a real-world setting across multiple centers with different volumes and levels of expertise, the median survival without AUS explantation was 83 months. This study confirms that radiotherapy represents the primary independent risk factor for AUS erosion in male nonneurological patients.

The 51-60 cm H2O Artificial Urinary Sphincter Pressure Regulating Balloon: Indications and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To describe the role and long-term outcomes of using the 51-60cm H2O pressure regulating balloon (PRB) in male patients with an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS).

METHODS

From 2005-2021, 90 patients with a variety of urethral risk factors underwent AUS placement with use of the low-pressure 51-60 cm H2O PRB to treat stress incontinence. Patient demographics, indication for use of the 51-60 cm H2O PRB, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes were examined and Pearson's chi squared test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to identify associations with future revisions, erosion, and mechanical failure.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were included in the study. After median follow-up of 46.6months (range: 6-146months), 4 (4.44%) patients developed an erosion-related complication that required device removal, 4 developed an infection, and 3 underwent surgery for pump relocation. One patient had a reported mechanical failure of unknown source. Thirty patients underwent revision surgery to reduce incontinence. Of the 4 patients with erosion, 1 was due to iatrogenic catheterization. The remaining 3 had numerous urethral risk factors. Univariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of cuff erosion, infection, and revision in patients with a 51-60 cm H2O PRB. No significant associations were found including prior pelvic radiation, age at AUS placement, presence of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP), prior AUS erosion, or previous urethroplasty.

CONCLUSION

The low-pressure 51-60 cm H2O PRB can be used in high-risk male patients with urinary incontinence with low rates of complications including erosion, infection, and mechanical failure. While patients may choose to undergo future revisional surgery to improve continence, the 51-60 cm H2O PRB should be considered as the initial PRB in patients with urethral risk factors.

Transalbugineal Artificial Urinary Sphincter: A Refined Implantation Technique to Improve Surgical Outcomes

The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation is an effective treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI). Still, it may result in troublesome complications such as intraoperative urethral lesion and postoperative erosion. Based on the multilayered structure of the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa, we evaluated an alternative transalbugineal surgical technique of AUS cuff placement with the aim to decrease perioperative morbidity while preserving the integrity of the corpora cavernosa. A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral center from September 2012 to October 2021, including 47 consecutive patients undergoing AUS (AMS800^®) transalbugineal implantation. At a median (IQR) follow-up of 60 (24-84) months, no intraoperative urethral injury and only one noniatrogenic erosion occurred. The actuarial 12 mo and 5 yr overall erosion-free rates were 95.74% (95% CI: 84.04-98.92) and 91.76% (95% CI: 75.23-97.43), respectively. In preoperatively potent patients, the IIEF-5 score remained unchanged. The social continence (0-1 pads per day) rate was 82.98% (CI 95%: 68.83-91.10) at 12 mos and 76.81% (CI 95%: 60.56-87.04) at 5 yrs follow-up. Our technically refined approach to AUS implantation may help to avoid intraoperative urethral lesions and lower the risk of subsequent erosion without compromising sexual function in potent patients. Prospective and adequately powered studies are necessary to achieve more compelling evidence.

The role of transcorporal cuff placement in high-risk and ultra-high-risk patients: are they actually helpful?

PURPOSE

To assess the incidence of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) explant in high-risk patients and to evaluate the relationship between transcorporal cuff (TCC) placement and explant risk in this population.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all AUS insertions performed on high-risk patients by a single surgeon from 2010 to 2020. "High-risk" was defined as having ≥ 1 urethral risk factor: pelvic radiation, urethroplasty, recalcitrant urethral/bladder neck stenosis, urethral stenting, or previous AUS erosion/infection. Patients with ≥ 2 factors were "ultra-high-risk." Time-to-event analyses were used to assess all-cause-, infection/erosion-related-, and mechanical failure-related explant-free survival. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with a history of radiation and urethral dissection.

RESULTS

The final cohort included 68 men, mean age of 67 years (SD 11), and 77 AUS cuffs. Mean follow-up was 32 months (IQR 6-50). 29% of cuffs (n = 22) were transcorporal. 32 cuffs (42%) were explanted. All-cause explant-free survival was 64% at 1 year and 52% at 2 years. Classification as "ultra-high-risk" was not associated with explant risk (all p-values > 0.05). TCC placement was associated with an increased risk of explant for infection/erosion across all patients (HR 2.74, p = 0.03) and in radiated patients (n = 50; HR 4.1, p = 0.04), but not in patients with prior urethral dissection (n = 52; HR 1.98, p = 0.21).

CONCLUSION

High-risk patients have a high rate of AUS explant and TCC placement may not be protective in this population. TCC placement was associated with an increased risk of infection/erosion in radiated patients, but not in those with a history of open urethral surgery.

Impact of radiation therapy on artificial urinary sphincter implantation in male patients: A multicenter study

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of an history of radiation therapy on the outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in male patients.

METHODS

The charts of all patients who underwent AUS implantation for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after prostate surgery in thirteen centers between 2004 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. We excluded patients with neurogenic SUI. Continence rates and incidence of complications, revision and cuff erosion were evaluated. The outcomes in irradiated men were compared to those of non irradiated men.

RESULTS

A total of 1277 patients who had an AUS met the inclusion criteria with a median age of 70 years, of which 437 had an history of prior radiotherapy. There was no difference in comorbidities. In irradiated patients, postoperative social continence, urethral atrophy and infection rates were respectively 75.6%, 2.4% and 9.5% and 76.8%, 5.4%, and 5.8% in nonirradiated men (respectively, p = 0.799, p = 0.128, p = 0.148). There were more urethral erosion in irradiated male patients. After a mean follow up of 36.8 months, the explantation free survival was poorer in irradiated patients (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that pelvic radiotherapy before AUS adversely affect device survival with and increased greater occurrence of infection-erosion and therefore of explantation.

Long-term lower urinary tract sequelae following AUS cuff erosion

AIMS

To examine the rate of lower urinary tract complications (LUTC) and urinary diversion (UD) after artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) explantation with the acute reconstruction of AUS cuff erosion defects.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent in-situ urethroplasty (ISU) for AUS cuff erosion from June 2007 to December 2020. Outcomes included LUTC (urethral stricture, diverticulum, fistula), AUS reimplantation, and UD. Defect size was prospectively estimated acutely and a subanalysis was performed to determine the impact of erosion severity (small erosions [<33% circumferential defect] and large erosions [≥33%]) on these outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves were created to compare survival between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients underwent ISU for urethral cuff erosion. The median patient age was 76 years old with a median erosion circumference of 46%. The overall LUTC rate was 30% (12/40) with 35% (14/40) of patients requiring permanent UD. Secondary AUS placement occurred in 24/40 (60%) patients with 11/24 (46%) leading to repeat erosion. On subanalysis, small erosion was associated with improved LUTC-free and UD-free survival but not associated with AUS reimplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower urinary tract complications are common after AUS cuff erosion and can lead to the need for permanent UD. Patients with larger erosions are more likely to undergo UD and reach this end-stage condition earlier compared to patients with small erosions.

Transcorporal vs. bulbar artificial urinary sphincter implantation in male patients with fragile urethra

PURPOSE

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSIONS

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 Complications: Risk Factors, Workup, and Clinical Approach

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review risk factors for AUS complications and present a systematic approach to their diagnosis and management.

RECENT FINDINGS

Established risk factors for AUS complications include catheterization, channel TURP, pelvic radiation, urethroplasty, anticoagulation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, frailty index, hypertension, low albumin, and low testosterone. We present our algorithm for diagnosis and management of AUS complications. Despite being the gold standard of treatment for men with SUI, major and minor complications can occur at any point after AUS insertion. Careful consideration of the urologic, medical, and operative risk factors for each patient can help prevent complications. A systematic approach to early and late complications facilitates their identification and effective management. The evaluating urologist must have a thorough understanding of potential AUS complications in order to restore quality of life in men with bothersome SUI.