Outcomes of Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement in Men After Radical Cystectomy and Orthotopic Urinary Diversions for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: The University of Southern California Experience

OBJECTIVE To examine the outcomes of male patients who have undergone artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), AMS-800 (American Medical Systems Minnetonka, MN) placement for iatrogenic stress urinary incontinence after radical cystectomy (RC) and orthotopic neobladder (ONB) diversion in a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 2002-2009, patients were prospectively randomized to undergo RC and Studer vs T-pouch neobladder reconstruction. We received IRB-approval to retrospectively review the charts of patients who underwent AUS placement for symptoms of SUI. Patients were mailed 2 validated questionnaires, International Continence Society Male-Short Form, the Incontinence Symptom Severity Index, and a pad questionnaire. RESULTS Twelve male patients were identified. Average age at time of AUS placement was 73.8 years (range 52-82). Mean time between RC/ONB and AUS placement was 1.53 years (range 1-4). Mean follow-up time after initial AUS placement was 21.7 months (range 12-72). Ten patients (10/12; 83.3%) returned the validated questionnaires. In comparing pre-AUS to post-AUS continence, 90% of patients reported improvement in continence. Three patients deactivated their AUS during the day and activated it at night. There were no erosions (0%) or any mechanical malfunctions of the device (0%) in our cohort. There were no complications or injuries to the ONB during placement of the AUS components. CONCLUSION AUS is a safe, effective continence procedure for patients with ONB and SUI. Complication rate, urinary symptoms, and quality of life these patients have as determined by validated questionnaires is acceptable. UROLOGY 79: 1397-1401, 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.