Evaluation of the 24-h pad weight test as continence rate assessment tool after artificial urinary sphincter implantation for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence: A Swedish retrospective cohort study.

AIM: Patient-reported pad-count as continence rate assessment tool after artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation is common. However, lack of standardized continence definition using this method results in heterogeneous published efficacy outcomes. Data on 24-h pad weight tests (PWT) after primary AUS implantation for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPUI) is scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the 24-h PWT as an efficacy assessment tool and correlate it to qualitative outcomes using validated questionnaires. METHODS: This retrospective, single center, follow-up cohort study, evaluated 180 patients who underwent primary AUS implantation for PPUI from 2005 to 2018. Voiding diaries, 24-h PWT, validated patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires were collected pre-operatively and at 3-6 months postactivation, using the institution's Electronic Medical Records. RESULTS: The median preoperative and postoperative 24-h PWT values were 494 (interquartile range [IQR]: 304-780) and 7 (IQR: 0-25) g respectively with a significant improvement in urinary leakage of 489.5 g 99.1% (p < 0.001). Median preoperative and postoperative I-QoL results increased from 33.5 (IQR: 19.3-63.6) to 86.4 (IQR: 73.9-94.3) points, with a significant 52.9 points improvement in QoL (p < 0.001). Similarly, the median preoperative and postoperative ICIQ-SF values decreased from 20 (IQR: 17-21) to 5 (IQR: 3-9) points, showing a significant improvement of 15 points (p < 0.001). We also found a significant correlation between PWT and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The 24-h PWT provides a reliable and objective assessment of continence rates, with a strong correlation to qualitative outcomes, after primary AUS implantation for PPUI. Its use could help reduce reported outcome heterogeneity across studies.

Performance and Safety of the Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AMS 800) for Non-neurogenic Women with Urinary Incontinence Secondary to Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: The use of the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) for female non-neurogenic severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) due to sphincter deficiency is either not specifically registered and/or reimbursed in some countries worldwide, as opposed to males, in whom it is considered the gold standard. With waning popularity of synthetic midurethral slings for the treatment of SUI, evidence-based assessment of AUS performance and safety is mandatory for patient counselling. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of studies evaluating short- to long-term AUS performance and safety outcomes in non-neurogenic adult females with severe SUI. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, from 1987 to 2018, without language restriction. Included studies had to report outcomes after AUS implantation in at least five adult women with non-neurogenic SUI, after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Twelve articles collecting data from 886 patients were identified, no study being randomised or prospective. The reported zero pad rates ranged from 42% to 86%, revision rates from 6% to 44%, and mechanical failure rates from 2% to 41%. Procedure serious adverse event rates ranged from 2% to 54% and rates of serious adverse device effects such as explantation ranged from 2% to 27%. CONCLUSIONS: The level of evidence supporting the use of an AUS for non-neurogenic SUI in women is very low. AUS outcome assessments necessitate well-designed randomised trials, in accordance with current evidence-based medicine requirements. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this article, reviewing the scientific literature over the last 30 yr, we looked at the short- to long-term efficacy and safety of the artificial urinary sphincter in adult women for the treatment of severe urine leakage. We conclude that the data analysed provide very low evidence and that further well-conducted trials with large populations are required.

Are Slings Still the Gold Standard for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence?

As slings are the most frequent first-line treatment for management of female urinary incontinence, an artificial urinary sphincter may be indicated in cases of failure and sphincter deficiency. The level of evidence has to improve and prospective studies or new devices are awaited.

Functional outcomes of synthetic tape and mesh revision surgeries: a monocentric experience.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Synthetic tapes and meshes used for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can lead to complications that require additional surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to report the functional outcomes following tape/mesh removal procedures. METHODS: This retrospective study included all consecutive women who underwent a tape/mesh surgical revision in a single tertiary referral center from January 2008 to September 2016. Descriptive statistics were performed to assess outcomes. RESULTS: Overall 140 women, with a mean age of 60.5 (range 35-91) years, had a tape/mesh surgical revision. Patients underwent the following surgeries: tape removal (n = 95/140, 67.9%), tape division (n = 23/140, 16.4%), mesh removal (n = 18/140, 12.9%) and concomitant tape and mesh removal (n = 4/140, 2.9%). Tape removals were mainly performed for voiding symptoms (n = 34/95, 35.8%) and vaginal erosion/extrusion (n = 16/95, 16.8%). Most mesh removals were performed for vaginal erosion/extrusion (n = 9/18, 50.0%). Mean interval between tape/mesh insertion and its surgical revision was 52.1 months (range 5.0 days-16.0 years). Mean follow-up time was 20.4 months (range 6.0 days-7.8 years). Voiding and storage symptoms resolved completely in 37/59 (62.7%) patients and in 14/37 (37.8%) patients, respectively; 42/81 (51.9%) patients with postoperative SUI recurrence or persistence underwent an additional surgical procedure. Among the 18 patients who had a mesh removal, only 1 (5.6%) had POP recurrence. CONCLUSION: Although most symptoms resolved after tape and mesh surgical revisions, patients must be informed that symptoms may persist. Recurrent or persistent SUI or POP may require a subsequent surgical procedure.

Surgical management of the neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: This work represents the efforts of the SIU-ICUD workgroup on this topic and comprehensive literature search of English language manuscripts regarding urologic surgery in spinal cord injury using key words of urologic surgery and spinal cord injury. Articles were compiled, and recommendations in the chapter are based on group discussion and intensive communication. The purpose is to review what has been published during the last decades on urological surgery for neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury. METHODS: Surgical techniques applied in spinal cord injured patients for neurogenic bladder dysfunction have been reviewed and the published material evaluated. RESULTS: There are several techniques that can be used to treat neurogenic dysfunctions and symptoms in refractory cases where conservative treatment failed. The number of publications is small as are the number of patients with spinal cord injury in which they have been performed. The choice of techniques proposed to the patients depends on the exact functional pathology in bladder, bladder neck and urethral sphincter. The final informed choice will be made by the patient. CONCLUSION: There are surgical urological techniques available to treat neurologic dysfunctions in spinal cord injured patients.

Analysis of bladder cancer subtypes in neurogenic bladder tumors.

INTRODUCTION: To establish if the validated tumor biomarkers of luminal and basal bladder cancers in non neuro-urological patients are applicable to a neuro-urological population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved bladder cancer samples from neuro-urological patients (n = 20) and non-neurological controls (n = 40). The expression of GATA3 and CK5/6 was analyzed using immunohistochemistry of microarray tissue sections. We also assessed the correlation between previous biomarker expression, gender, age, tumor stage (non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)/muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)), squamous-cell differentiation and basal/luminal subtypes using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis of bladder cancer in neuro-urological patients was 53.2 years (min 41-max 73). MIBC was found in 13 neuro-urological patients (65%). The luminal subtype was identified in 7 samples (35%, all urothelial differentiation). The basal subtype was found in 13 samples (65%): 12 squamous-cell and 1 sarcomatoid differentiation. GATA3 and CK5/6 were expressed in 6 (30%) neuro-urological patients. A significant positive correlation was found between GATA3 expression and the luminal subtype (p = 0.00001, r = 0.5676). This was not the case with the neuro-urological status (r = -0.307). A poor correlation was found between CK5/6 expression and the neuro-urological status (r = 0.471 and -0.471), squamous-cell differentiation (r = 0.092), tumor stage NMIBC/MIBC (r = -0.118 and 0.118) and basal/luminal subtypes (r = -0.157 and 0.194). CONCLUSION: In summary, the expression of GATA3 and CK5/6 could not differentiate the different subtypes of bladder cancer in neuro-urological patients. This implies that their specific histopathological signature is distinct from non neuro-urological patients. Additional pathways may be involved to explain their urothelial carcinogenesis mechanism.