Outcomes of open artificial urinary sphincter in women with stress urinary incontinence: long-term follow up.

The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) resulting from intrinsic sphincter deficiency after a follow up of 10 years.

The charts of female patients with moderate-to-severe SUI who underwent open AUS implantation between November 1994 and April 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were operated on by a single experienced surgeon through an open retropubic approach with systematic bladder incision. Primary endpoint was postoperative continence categorized as complete continence (no pads used), improved incontinence, or unchanged incontinence.

A total of 63 women (mean age: 58 years, range: 17-82) underwent open AUS implantation. There were seven (11.1%) intraoperative complications. At the last follow up, 26 (41.3%) initial AUSs remained in situ and 21 (33.3%) patients had at least one revision or reimplantation. Of these 47 patients (74.6%), 35 (74.5%) were fully continent, 3 (6.4%) had improved incontinence, and 9 (19.1%) had unchanged incontinence. A total of 20 patients (31.7%) experienced postoperative complications, but only 2 (3.2%) were Clavien ⩾3. After a median follow up of 14 ± 6 years, 20 (31.7%) explantations and 29 (46%) revisions occurred. The average time without explantation or revision was 11.6 and 9 years, respectively.

In our experience, AUS is a good option for women with moderate to severe SUI, with good long-term outcomes.

Therapeutic advances in urology. 2019 Sep 16*** epublish ***

Thibault Tricard, Floriane Jochum, Sébastien Bergerat, Pierre Munier, Alice Schroeder, Christian Saussine

Department of Urology, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaire de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France., Department of Urology, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaire de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'Hôpital, Strasbourg, France.