Is artificial urinary sphincter associated with improved long-term outcomes in women with urinary incontinence?

This study investigated the long-term outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in women with urinary incontinence (UI). Researchers suggested that AUS is a good long-term treatment option for these patients.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common form of incontinence in women. It affects around 15 million adult women in the US. It consists of the leakage of urine when the bladder is put under pressure (such as after coughing, sneezing, running or lifting weights).

The standard treatment for this disorder is surgical, such as AUS. A sphincter is the body part that stops urine to flow out of the bladder. AUS is implanted in the body to improve the action of the natural sphincter. Prior studies showed that AUS improves the outcomes of women with incontinence. However, is not widely used in women due to surgical difficulties.

This study included information about 23 women who underwent surgical implantation of AUS. Patients were followed up for an average of 11.6 years.

At the last follow-up, 7 (30.4%) AUS remained in place. 9 (39.1%) women needed a revision or second implantation.

16 (69.6%) patients showed full recovery, 4 (17.4%) had improved incontinence and 3 (13%) had no improvements. After an average follow-up of 11.6 years, 8 (34.8%) explantations and 16 (69.6%) revisions occurred.

Survival rates without explanation were 94.4% at 5 years and 50% at 20 years. Survival rates without revision were 83.8% at 5 years and 16.7% at 20 years.

This study concluded that AUS is a good option to achieve long-term outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence.

This study was based on medical records. Some information might have been incomplete. This might affect the results.