"FlowSecure" artificial urinary sphincter: a new adjustable artificial urinary sphincter concept with conditional occlusion for stress urinary incontinence

introductionWe have implanted the FlowSecure artificial sphincter for the first time in October 2006. The prototype was originally conceived and designed by Professor Craggs M. D. and Professor Mundy A.R. Preliminary clinical results were reported in nine patients early this year. Our objective is to spread technique for surgical implantation.MethodsCombined perineal and abdominal incisions are required for exposure of bulbar urethra, creation of a cavity in the para-vesical space and dissection of a pocket under de scrotal wall. A trocar with a stylet is routed from the abdominal incision to the perineal incision to pass the deflated cuff to the perineal site. The cuff is placed around the urethra and secured with Prolene sutures. After refilling the cuff, fluid is removed from the system until the stress relief balloon becomes just indented (atmospheric pressure 0). The pump is placed in the scrotum and the balloons in the paravesical space.ResultsWe have implanted our first FlowSecure artificial sphincter in a patient with severe stress incontinence following a T.U.R.P. The surgical technique is simple and associated with little handling. He was discharged from hospital 4 days after the procedure and it was decided that pressurisation was unnecessary.DiscussionSurgical implantation of the new FlowSecure artificial urinary sphincter is an easy procedure in males with stress urinary incontinence. Knigth et al. reported 30 to 40 minutes operating time, 4 days mean hospital stay and unnecessary pressurisation procedure in 3 out of their 9 patients. It seems that their results are reproducible.