The role of synthetic slings in male stress incontinence

Abstract

ObjectiveOur primary aim was to compare the outcomes of synthetic bone-anchored male slings (BAMS) and transobturator male slings (TOMS), to identify preoperative risk factors for failure, and to evaluate patient satisfaction with each procedure.Patients and methodsCharts were reviewed retrospectively of patients who underwent synthetic BAMS or TOMS from 2000 to 2011. Data were categorised into groups based on outcomes of ‘dry’, ‘improved’ and ‘failure’. Success was defined as completely dry or an improvement by >50% in daily pad use. The data analysed included demographics, daily pad use before and after surgery, previous urethral insult, type of prostatectomy, and urodynamic study variables. Data were analysed using logistical regression, the t-test and chi-square analysis, where appropriate.ResultsSixty-eight men were analysed (30 in each group; eight patients were excluded). Daily pad use for the TOMS group changed from 3.5 before to 1.5 after surgery (P = 0.001), whilst the BAMS group was unchanged from 3.9 to 3.5 (P = 0.747). The TOMS group had a success rate of 23/30 (77%) and a mean (SD) patient global impression of improvement score of 1.67 (0.90), whilst the BAMS group had a success rate of 11/30 (37%) and mean (SD) score of 2.64 (1.12). Urethral insult (P = 0.001) and preoperative pad use (P = 0.047) were significant predictors of failure.ConclusionTOMS gave better outcomes than BAMS in both performance and patient satisfaction. Patients with a greater severity of incontinence and evidence of urethral insult before surgery should be counselled about the likelihood of suboptimal outcomes with any type of sling placement.

Virtue male sling for post‐prostatectomy stress incontinence: a prospective evaluation and mid‐term outcomes

“…At a mean (range) follow-up of 14.5 (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22) months, the patients had considerable improvements in 24-h pad weight, number of pads/day, ICIQ-SF score, and USP SUI and OAB scores ( Pad weight, VAS score and USP score improved markedly 1 month after the procedure, whereas ICIQ-SF score and number of pads/day improved as of the third postoperative month. One year after surgery, the median scores on the PGI-I and PGI-S questionnaires were, in both cases, 1 (respectively, 'very much better' and 'normal condition').…”

“…The success rates of male sling placement operations vary depending on the different types of sling used. With regard to the InVance male sling, a tape anchored to the pubic rami with the aim of providing a more durable fixation, success rates range from 13% (dry patients) to 66%, the latter outcome being observed at 4 years’ follow‐up in a series of 62 patients .…”