Long-term outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter in female patients with spina bifida

AIMS

To report the long-term functional outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in female patients with spinal dysraphism and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) related to intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD).

METHODS

The charts of all spina bifida female patients with SUI due to ISD who underwent AUS (AMS 800) implantation between 2005 and 2019 at three academic departments of urology were retrospectively reviewed. Reoperation was defined as either revision or explantation of the AUS device. Reoperation-free survival of the AUS device was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Continence status as per patients' subjective assessment was categorized as follows: complete continence (no pads), improved continence, unchanged SUI or worsened SUI.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients were included, 69.6% were self-catheterizing. The median follow-up was 14 years. Median time to first reoperation was 10 years. Survival rates without reoperation were 85.9%, 41.8%, 34.6%, and 20.9% at 5, 10, 15, 20 years, respectively. Survival rates without AUS explantation were 90.7%, 66.3%, 55.2%, and 41.4% at 5, 10, 15, 20 years, respectively. None of the patients who underwent device explantation had a new AUS implanted. The only predictive factor of reoperation-free survival was the type of spinal dysraphism (hazards ratio = 3.60 for closed vs. open dysraphism; p = .04). At last follow-up, 17 of the 23 patients were fully continent (73.9%).

CONCLUSION

AUS in female patients with spina bifida may be associated with satisfactory long-term functional outcomes and a high reoperation rate. The median time to first reoperation was similar to what is reported in the male AUS literature (10 years).

[Satisfactory long-term results with a sphincter prosthesis in patients with urinary incontinence due to an intrinsic urinary sphincter deficiency: evaluation of 86 patients]

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the results of treatment with an artificial urinary sphincter in 86 patients with urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

METHODS

In the period 1982-1997 an artificial urinary sphincter (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA) was inserted in the Academic Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Department of Urology, the Netherlands, in 86 patients (15 women and 71 men) aged 8-84 years. All patients suffered from urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency. A 'good' result was defined as being completely dry or using a maximum of one pad per day. During follow-up visits, the pad counts were registered and the pumping characteristics of the prosthesis were checked. In case of deterioration of the continence status a re-evaluation was started using imaging modalities and urodynamic studies.

RESULTS

After an average follow-up of 41 months 76% of the patients were either completely dry or used a maximum of one incontinence pad per day. Urinary continence had markedly improved in another 7% of the patients. One or more reoperations due to mechanical or non-mechanical problems with the prosthesis had to be performed in 37 patients (43%).

CONCLUSION

The artificial urinary sphincter can give excellent results as far as urinary continence is concerned, if the price of a relatively large number of revisions is accepted, in a population of patients to whom, in most cases, no other treatment options apply.

The artificial urinary sphincter in men incontinent after radical prostatectomy: 5 year actuarial adequate function rates

OBJECTIVE

To determine the success (as both continence and revision rates) of the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in men incontinent after radical prostatectomy, and thus improve the preoperative counselling provided for these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The AUS was implanted in 27 men incontinent after radical prostatectomy (mean age 69 years, range 59-75) at a mean (range) interval of 20 (4-60) months after surgery. The Kaplan-Meier method of survival analysis was used to determine the 'primary adequate function' (PAF) rate and the 'additional procedure-assisted adequate function' (APA-AF) rate. Adequate function was defined as satisfactory continence (use of at most one pad per 24 h) in combination with good AUS function. PAF was defined when no revisions of the AUS were required and APA-AF when one or more revisions of one or more parts of the AUS were required; a complete exchange or explantation of the AUS defined failure, i.e. the end of APA-AF.

RESULTS

At a mean follow-up of 35 months, 81% of the patients had achieved satisfactory continence. However, the 5 year PAF and APA-AF rates, based on the Kaplan-Meier curves, were 49% and 71%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of an AUS can provide excellent continence rates in patients incontinent after radical prostatectomy, but only at the expense of a considerable re-operation rate. The outcome is best represented by Kaplan-Meier curves of the PAF and the APA-AF.

Laparoscopic approaches to the treatment of intrinsic urethral weakness (type III stress urinary incontinence)

The treatment of intrinsic urethral weakness (Type III stress urinary incontinence) has traditionally been accomplished by the performance of a sling cystourethropexy or the placement of an artificial urinary sphincter. As experience with operative laparoscopy continues to increase, the possibility of performing these procedures from a laparoscopic approach becomes realistic. We report our experience with the laparoscopic performance of a sling cystourethropexy and placement of an artificial urinary sphincter in the canine model. On the basis of initial results, we believe these techniques are feasible in human subjects.

[Treatment of male urinary incontinence with the AMS 800 sphincter prosthesis: 45 cases]

Urinary incontinence due to sphincter incompetence constitutes a major source of disability. The AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter allows durable restoration of satisfactory continence in patients who are often unresponsive to any other forms of treatment. 45 men underwent implantation of a peribulbar urethral (40) or pericervical (5) artificial sphincter over a 5-year period. Incontinence was secondary to prostatic surgery in the majority of cases (33). The technique, which is now well defined, consisted of urinary drainage via a bladder catheter for 8 days and activation of the sphincter after 1 month. The mean follow-up is 30 months. 36 (80%) of the patients are continent, including 27 (60%) without revision and 9 (20%) underwent unsuccessful revision resulting in partial or complete removal or permanent inactivation of the prosthesis (sepsis, urethral erosion, defective prosthesis). Strict patient selection, a rigorous implantation technique and standardised management of any incidents are key elements in the success of this procedure.