Combined stent and artificial urinary sphincter for management of severe recurrent bladder neck contracture and stress incontinence after prostatectomy: a long-term evaluation

Abstract

Purpose: Concurrent incontinence and severe recurrent bladder neck contracture following radical prostatectomy are difficult to manage. Recurrent anastomotic strictures following repeat transurethral incisions and resections, and the need for frequent instrumentation are contraindications for artificial urinary sphincter placement. Usually treatment alternatives for these patients consist of some form of urinary diversion or chronic catheter drainage. We evaluated our results using a UroLume stent across the bladder neck contracture followed by placement of an artificial urinary sphincter.

Materials and methods: After failed multiple (mean incisions 4.4) attempts at conservative management of anastomotic stricture 9 men were treated with a UroLume urethral stent across the contracture followed by artificial urinary sphincter placement after appropriate epithelialization of the stent was confirmed.

Results: All patients were followed for a mean of 17.5 months. Mean pad use per day decreased from 6.5 to 0.7 before and after artificial urinary sphincter placement, respectively. Two patients reported mild persistent perineal discomfort and 1 had a recurrent contracture after stent placement, which was successfully managed with placement of a second overlapping stent. Overall, 89% of the patients were satisfied with the results.

Conclusions: UroLume stent placement followed by artificial urinary sphincter can be a successful method for treating recurrent severe bladder neck contracture and incontinence. There is minimal morbidity with the procedures, and the combination offers a much more attractive treatment alternative compared to urinary diversion or chronic catheter drainage.