To analyze decision-making in patients with male urinary incontinence (SUI) in centers of expertise. The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) remains the gold standard for male patients with moderate to severe SUI but adjustable male slings are a minimally invasive treatment option with good results, hence without a high level of evidence regarding the optimal patient selection.
In total, 220 patients (88 AUS; 132 adjustable slings) were investigated from the DOMINO database that underwent surgery between 2010 and 2012 in 5 urological departments that offer adjustable sling systems as well as AUS systems for patients with moderate to severe urinary incontinence. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to identify differences between both groups.
Patients selected for an adjustable male sling were less likely to have a neurological disease (5.3 vs. 9.1%; p = 0.030), a prior urethral stricture (22.7 vs. 50.0%; p = 0.001), a prior incontinence surgery (24.4 vs. 45.5%; p = 0.01), or a prior radiation therapy (26.5 vs. 40.1%; p = 0.001). The severity of preoperative incontinence was higher in patients selected for an AUS with a mean pad usage per day of 7.60 versus 5.80 (p < 0.001). Mean postoperative pad usage and patients' subjective perception were comparable in both groups.
In centers offering both options, the decision-making is mainly based upon presence of radiation therapy and previous failed incontinence surgery. Despite the more complex patient cohort selected for an AUS implantation with a possible impact on the postoperative outcome, the functional results seem to be comparable indicating a proper preoperative patient assessment and selection in this cohort.
Urologia internationalis. 2020 Jul 24 [Epub ahead of print]
Markus Grabbert, Ricarda M Bauer, Tanja Hüsch, Alexander Kretschmer, Ruth Kirschner-Hermanns, Ralf Anding, Bernhard Brehmer, Carsten Maik Naumann, Fabian Queissert, Wael Yaseen Khoder, Christian Gratzke, Torben Hofmann, Axel Haferkamp, Wilhelm A Huebner
Department of Urology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany., Department of Urology, University Hospital Munich Grosshadern (LMU), Munich, Germany, ., Department of Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany., Department of Urology, University Hospital Munich Grosshadern (LMU), Munich, Germany., Department of Neurourology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany., Department of Urology, Diankonie Hospital Schwaebisch Hall, Schwaebisch Hall, Germany., Department of Urology, Marienhaus Hospital Neuwied, Neuwied, Germany., Department of Urology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany., Department of Urology, Korneuburg General Hospital, Korneuburg, Austria.