Artificial Urinary Sphincter Outcomes in the "Fragile Urethra"

To assess artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) outcomes in challenging post-prostatectomy patients with a "fragile urethra" at risk for urethral erosion.

An institutional retrospective review of all AUS placements between August 2004 and March 2014 was performed. A "fragile urethra" was defined as a history of pelvic radiation, previous failed AUS, previous urethroplasty, or cystoscopic and/or clinical findings of urethral atrophy. The primary outcome was continence, defined as requiring ≤1 pad per day. Secondary outcomes included 90-day complications, need for further treatment, change in continence pads, and patient-reported satisfaction.

Thirty patients were identified as having a "fragile urethra." Thirteen of these patients underwent a transcorporal AUS (TCAUS) and 17 had a standard AUS cuff placement. Seventeen patients had radiation, 8 had a previous eroded AUS, and 10 had a prior urethroplasty. Five patients had multiple risk factors for urethral erosion. Continence was achieved in 77% (23/30), 97% (29/30) were improved, and the mean change in pads was 6.0 ± 2.8. Only 7% (2/30) required explantation, both for erosion. When the TCAUS and standard AUS groups were compared, no differences were noted in continence rates (P = .43), improvement (P = 1.00), explantation rates (P = .18), or erosion rates (P = .18), despite TCAUS having a higher proportion of previous urethroplasties.

AUS is a viable treatment option for post-prostatectomy incontinence, even in the fragile urethra. TCAUS may be utilized in patients with a very high risk for atrophy with similar continence and complication rates compared with standard AUS.