The male sling for stress urinary incontinence: urodynamic and subjective assessment

PURPOSE: We prospectively examined whether the fixed urethral resistance of the perineal male sling for the treatment of stress incontinence causes significant bladder outlet obstruction or de novo voiding dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 patients (average age 67 years old) were evaluated before and after surgery with videourodynamics, the self-administered UCLA Prostate Cancer Index incontinence section and pad score. RESULTS: Mean followup was 25 months (range 6 to 42). All patients complained of a moderate to severe problem before surgery. After surgery 16 (73%) reported a very small problem/no problem, 3 (14%) a moderate problem and 3 (14%) reported a big problem. Average pad use +/- SD decreased from 4.6 +/- 2.5 to 0.74 +/- 1.0 pads (p <0.01). Median UCLA Prostate Cancer Index incontinence score increased from 82 to 313, p <0.001. Mean retrograde leak point pressure (RLPP) increased from 30.4 +/- 15.9 to 59.9 +/- 9.7 cm water. Bladder outlet obstruction did not develop in any patients after surgery. Average maximum flow rate did not change significantly (17.7 +/- 6.5 vs 19.2 +/- 9.7 ml per second, p = 0.6). Nor was there a significant change in detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (40.3 +/- 9.2 vs 45.8 +/- 14.7 cm water, p = 0.3). While de novo urgency or urge incontinence did not develop in any patients, 2 of 5 patients with a moderate/big leakage problem demonstrated postoperative detrusor overactivity on cystometry. Both individuals requiring more than 3 pads daily had a postoperative RLPP of less than 50 cm water. CONCLUSIONS: Pad use, leak point pressure and urinary incontinence scores are significantly improved after sling surgery. Fixed resistance does not lead to bladder outlet obstruction. Postoperative RLPP less than 50 cm water and urodynamic detrusor overactivity are associated with increased pad use and bother.