Use of the AS792 artificial sphincter following urinary undiversion

Reconstruction of the urinary tract after diversion has been successful in patients with normal innervation of the lower tracts. However, the possibility of urinary incontinence after such major surgical procedures has dissuaded many surgeons from attempting urinary undiversion in patients in whom the continence status cannot be determined accurately before the operation or who were known to be incontinent before the original diversion. For this reason, the presence of neuropathic bladder dysfunction has been considered a relative contraindication to urinary undiversion unless it can be established preoperatively that the patient will obtain urinary continence. Eight patients are reported who had successful outcome with the use of the AS792 artificial urinary sphincter to control incontinence after urinary undiversion. Because of this successful experience it is now believed that patients with neuropathic bladder dysfunction or anatomically abnormal lower tracts are no longer precluded from urinary undiversion. A variety of methods has been used to reconstruct the urinary tract, including total reconstruction of the bladder and urethra with the sigmoid colon in 1 case. In the latter case the artificial sphincter was placed around the bowel segment to provide continence. The use of the artificial sphincter around a bowel segment offers many possibilities for reconstructive procedures involving bowel in the future.     

Treatment of urinary incontinence with an artificial sphincter: further experience with the AS791/792 device

Artificial sphincter models AS791 and AS792 were used to treat 36 male and 7 female patients with urinary incontinence. Satisfactory results were obtained in 72 per cent of the patients. Of 100 surgical procedures performed to achieve these results 61 were planned procedures (initial implantation and delayed activation) and 39 were revisions required to improve continence, change mechanically failing devices or remove eroded sphincters. From our study 3 major problems with the artificial sphincter are apparent: 1) stress incontinence, which was present in 55 per cent of the patients with bulbous urethral sphincter compared to 21 per cent with sphincters located at the bladder neck, 2) erosions, which appear to be related to balloon pressure used and location of the artificial sphincter (there seems to be a higher incidence of erosions when the bulbous urethral site is used with balloon pressure greater than 80 cm. water) and 3) mechanical failures of the device, which accounted for 41 per cent of the unplanned operations in our series. These 3 major problems are reviewed, the possible etiology of persistent stress incontinence is discussed and possible ways to avoid these complications are suggested.     

Preliminary results of AS 791/792 artificial sphincter for urinary incontinence

Twenty-seven patients with incontinence have been treated by implantation of the AS 791 or 792 artificial sphincter over the past 24 months. All but four were incontinent as a result of myelodysplasia or prostatic ablation: 22 are currently completely continent, 2 await activation and 3 have failed. There has been only one mechanical failure, though 3 patients have required the insertion of a higher pressure reservoir to resolve stress incontinence, reflecting our conservative approach to the initial choice of reservoir.     

Treatment of stress urinary incontinence with artificial urinary sphincter

Stress urinary incontinence in women is usually due to either urethral hypermobility or intrinsic urethral weakness. Stress incontinence due to urethral hypermobility is usually cured with a cystourethropexy. That due to intrinsic urethral weakness, however, requires either periurethral injection, sling cystourethropexy or placement of an artificial urinary sphincter to achieve reasonable success rates. The artificial urinary sphincter has been used since 1972. Many modifications have been made to the original device, culminating in the currently available device, the AS-800, made by American Medical Systems. This paper reviews patient selection, surgical technique and complications of artificial urinary sphincter placement in the treatment of women with intrinsic urethral weakness (type III incontinence).     

Experience with the artificial urinary sphincter model AS800 in 148 patients

The latest version of the artificial urinary sphincter, AS800, was used in 148 patients with urinary incontinence of different etiologies. Followup ranged from 3 to 37 months, with an average of 20.8 months. There were 112 (76 per cent) male and 36 (24 per cent) female patients. The cuff was implanted around the bladder neck in 78 patients (53 per cent) and around the bulbar urethra in 70 (47 per cent). Socially acceptable urinary control was achieved in 90 per cent of the 139 patients with active devices in place. It was necessary to remove the sphincter in 11 patients (7.4 per cent). The reasons for removal were infection and erosion in 8 patients (5.4 per cent), infection without erosion in 2 (1.3 per cent), and erosion due to excess pressure and poor tissues in 1 (0.7 per cent). Comparison of success and failure rates associated with incontinence of different etiologies revealed that patients with incontinence after failure of a conventional antistress incontinence operation and those with incontinence after transurethral resection or radical prostactectomy had the highest success rate, and that patients with incontinence secondary to pelvic fracture or exstrophy and epispadias had the highest failure rates. The deactivation feature (the lock) of the new artificial sphincter model was beneficial for primary deactivation, urethral catheterization or cystoscopy, or for elective nocturnal decompression of the bladder neck or urethral tissues.     

Radical prostatectomy incontinence and the AS791 artificial urinary sphincter

The AS791 prosthetic sphincter was implanted in 66 patients with urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Of these patients 49 (74 per cent) were continent 3 months to 4 1/2 years after implantation. Excluding the 22 patients who had had previous pelvic radiation therapy 41 (93 per cent) were continent. Mechanical problems have been few, establishing the reliability of this unique sphincter mechanism.     

Treatment of urinary incontinence by the Scott-Bradley-Timm artificial sphincter

Eight patients were treated with an implantable artificial urinary sphincter. Five patients had neurogenic bladders, two had postprostatectomy incontinence and one severe recurring stress incontinence. The main problem was mechanical failure of the device in four patients. The present results (follow up two to ten months) may be classified as satisfactory in six and unsatisfactory in two patients.     

The AS 800 artificial urinary sphincter in children with myelodysplasia. Preliminary results

Ten children with myelodysplasia and intractable urinary incontinence have been implanted with an AS 800 artificial sphincter. Eight remain dry and 2 are improved over a follow-up period of 12 - 14 months. However, most have shown a reduction in bladder compliance, which suggests that further surgery may be necessary to maintain continence.     

Further experience with the artificial urinary sphincter

Since December 1977, 78 patients with severe urinary incontinence have been treated by insertion of an artificial sphincter at our medical center. In 53 patients the device was inserted and activated at the same time. Of these 53 patients 21 (40 per cent) are perfectly dry, 8 (15 per cent) are improved but are occasionally wet and 24 (45 per cent) have failed. In 25 patients activation of the sphincter was delayed. Of this group 14 patients (56 per cent) are perfectly dry, 2 (8 per cent) are occasionally wet and 9 (36 per cent) have failed. The delayed activation technique has reduced the failure rate from 45 to 36 per cent and we recommend its use in high risk patients.     

The model AS 800 artificial urinary sphincter: Mayo Clinic experience

The model AS 800 artificial urinary sphincter was implanted in 100 male and 9 female patients between 7 and 89 years old. Postoperative followup was 1 to 32 months. The indication for implantation was total urinary incontinence in 86 patients (78.9 per cent), stress incontinence in 22 (21.2 per cent) and urgency incontinence in 1 (0.9 per cent). Of the patients 97 (89 per cent) underwent implantation for the first time, 7 (6.4 per cent) had a previous artificial urinary sphincter model replaced by the AS 800 device and 5 (4.6 per cent) underwent reimplantation of a previous model. The cuff was placed around the bladder neck in all 9 female patients, whereas in the male patients the cuff was implanted around the bladder neck in 20 and around the bulbous urethra in 80. Thirty-one patients (28.4 per cent), 29 of whom were continent at night, were practicing nocturnal deactivation of the device. Complete post-activation continence was achieved in 91 patients (83.5 per cent), some leakage occurred in 10 (9.2 per cent) and 8 (7.3 per cent) remained incontinent. A total of 23 patients required 1 or more revisions, the most common indications for the first revision being loss of cuff compression (9), tubing kink (3), cuff erosion (3) and infection (2). At the time of this report 89 patients (81.7 per cent) were continent, 9 (8.3 per cent) still had some leakage, 3 (2.8 per cent) were incontinent, 5 (4.6 per cent) were awaiting reimplantation and 3 (2.8 per cent) had died of unrelated causes.     

Surgical results with artificial urinary sphincter

From June, 1974, until January, 1977, eleven AMS 721 genitourinary sphincters were installed in 9 men and 2 females. Long term success was achieved in 2 men. Failures were encountered in 9 patients (82 per cent) with urethral erosions (3 patients), infection (1 patient), and mechanical failure (5 patients) accounting for the complications necessitating prosthetic removal. From January, 1979, until May, 1981,15 males had the revised AMS model AS 742 (b) or (c) sphincter installed. Long term continence was achieved in 9 patients (60 per cent). Urethral erosion in 4 patients (27 per cent) and infection of the prosthesis in 2 men (13 per cent) accounted for failures. An improved surgical technique involving the installation of the device in a defunctionalized state with secondary activation is anticipated to improve future results.     

人工尿道括约肌治疗尿失禁(附四例报告)

目的　探讨人工尿道括约肌治疗真性尿失禁的效果和安全性。　方法　采用美国AMS公司 80 0型人工尿道括约肌植入治疗 4例真性尿失禁患者 ,记录手术前后的排尿日记 ,尿动力学测定 ,观察其不良反应。　结果　 4例患者人工尿道括约肌植入术后 4～ 6周开通人工尿道括约肌 ,尿失禁得到良好控制 ,恢复自主排尿 ,未出现因感染而取出装置的严重并发症 ;随访 17～ 4 6个月 ,白天或夜间均无漏尿 ,无需尿垫 ,能自主排尿 ,生活质量评分平均 1分。尿动力学测定膀胱顺应性及稳定性良好 ,最大尿道闭合压 8.2～ 9.4kPa ,平均 8.7kPa ,3例无剩余尿 ,1例有少量剩余尿 ,仅 1例曾因机械故障更换控制泵。　结论　人工尿道括约肌植入术治疗真性尿失禁疗效满意 ,手术简单 ,安全可靠 ,无严重并发症。     

Management of urinary incontinence in women with the artificial urinary sphincter

This study concerns 39 women who underwent implantation of the artificial urinary sphincter for severe, persistent urinary incontinence following surgical correction of the anatomical deformity. The cause of incontinence was poor or absent function of the urethral sphincteric mechanism. The success rate in this series with the artificial urinary sphincter was 92 per cent. The condition of the tissues in the cuff area is crucial for success of the procedure. Some technical considerations of the procedure are discussed.     

The artificial urinary sphincter in children. Experience with the AS800 series and bowel reconstruction

Recent reports have shown that the artificial urinary sphincter is a reliable means of achieving urinary continence in both adults and children who have urinary incontinence of various etiologies. Although complications may occur, currently the artificial urinary sphincter is the most efficient means of obtaining urinary continence. The author discusses the features of the device, how to trouble-shoot when problems occur, and the role of the device in patients who have undergone partial or total reconstruction of the bladder with bowel.     

人工尿道括约肌治疗真性尿失禁

目的：探讨人工尿道括约肌治疗真性尿失禁的效果和安全性。方法：对1例前列腺电切术后尿失禁患者进行AMS800人工尿道括约肌植入治疗。记录植入术前术后的排尿日记，并观察不良反应。结果：施行人工尿道括约肌植入术后6周开通人工尿道括约肌，尿失禁得到良好地控制，恢复自主排尿，未发生并发症，无其他不良反应，结论：人工尿道括约肌植入术是一种安全有效的治疗真性尿失禁的方法。     

Management of neurogenic urinary incontinence with AMS artificial urinary sphincter

The AMS artificial urinary sphincter was implanted in 33 patients with neurogenic urinary incontinence during a 10-year period. All sphincter types were employed, from the earliest AS 721 model to the latest AS 800. The mechanically unstable AS 721 and 761 types have all been removed and, when possible, replaced by later models. In 27 of the 33 patients the device is still in situ, and in 6 (18%) it was removed, mainly because of urethral erosion. Increasingly favourable sphincter survival rats have been obtained. The overall survival rate for model AS 742 was 55% (7 years) for first implant, while the 4-year survival rate for AS 791/792 was 90%. Successful control of voiding function, defined as complete continence or slight but not socially inconvenient incontinence, was obtained in 25 patients (76% of the series).     

Experience with the penile prosthesis and artificial urinary sphincter

The therapy of two common urologic problems, erectile dysfunction and urinary stress incontinence, has been revolutionized over the last 20 years by the incorporation of principles of hydraulic mechanics into the field of silicone prosthesis implantation. The inflatable penile prosthesis is surgically implanted into men with impotence due to organic or psychogenic etiology. The artificial urinary sphincter has found widespread use in males and females in both the adult and pediatric populations with stress incontinence from a variety of causes. Associated with these popular devices are various complications relating to the anatomic site as well as the host's immunologic response. The use of these implants, as well as the technologic innovations resulting from various adverse effects, are reviewed herein.     

Experience with the artificial urinary sphincter at Michigan.

Between August 1973 and May 1975, 9 patients with various causes of urinary incontinence were treated with the implantable artificial sphincter. Of these 9 patients 6 remained continent on long-term followup. Complications, observed in 5 patients, were corrected successfully in 2 but were treated unsuccessfully in 3 and resulted in partial or complete removal of the prosthesis. The need for screening the patient preoperatively, meticulous operative techniques and continuous postoperative surveillance is emphasized. An orderly method of evaluating the problem is presented.     

Urinary tract deterioration associated with the artificial urinary sphincter

In most recent series of artificial sphincter implantations there has been a reduction in mechanical and surgical complications, with continence rates approaching 90 per cent. Despite initially excellent results in 47 children, with increasing durations of followup we noted a transient hydronephrosis related to incomplete bladder emptying in 5 and a persistent physiological alteration of detrusor dynamics consisting of a rigid, noncompliant bladder in 7. Preoperatively, all patients had had indepth radiological studies and most had a urodynamic evaluation, and were considered to be excellent candidates. The etiology of these alterations is not understood at this time. Bladder and even upper tract deterioration can occur without the appearance of urinary leakage. Therefore, children with an artificial sphincter must be monitored indefinitely with semiannual assessment of the upper tracts and periodic urodynamic evaluation.     

Impact of the new cuff design on reliability of the AS800 artificial urinary sphincter.

The effect of 2 cuff design changes on the mechanical reliability of the current AS800 artificial urinary sphincter was assessed in 126 patients. The surface-treated cuff was introduced in 1983 and the narrow-back design was introduced in 1987. Mean followup for the surface-treated cuff was 40 months, while that for the narrow back was 27.2 months. The incidence of cuff leaks was 1.3%, while the revision rate for clinically significant pressure atrophy, in the absence of a bladder flap urethroplasty, was 2.3%. The overall revision rate for clinically significant pressure atrophy was 9%. No leaks involving the balloon or tubing occurred. The mechanical reliability of the current AS800 artificial urinary sphincter has improved significantly.