[New techniques for surgical treatment of postoperative male stress incontinence]

Abstract

The impact of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of postoperative male incontinence has significantly improved in recent years. These techniques are based on the continuous increase in urethral resistance. This resistance can be readjusted with balloons placed paraurethrally or with readjustable suburethral slings. The success rates depend on the preoperative degree of incontinence. With bulking agents that are transurethrally injected into the submucosa of the sphincter, continence rates between 12 and 90% can be seen. Severe complications are rare. The impact of the studies is often limited due to a short follow-up. After implantation of adjustable balloons that are placed paraurethrally close to the bladder neck, continence rates up to 70% can be seen. The overall improvement of incontinence is observed in up to 90% of the treated patients. Complications such as balloon migration or mechanical disorders can cause operative revision. Suburethral sling systems are available as bone-anchored slings or as readjustable slings. Continence can be seen in up to 90% of the patients postoperatively. Severe complications such as sling erosion or sling infection are rare. In cases of mild and moderate incontinence, these minimally invasive techniques are good alternatives to the fascial sling or alloplastic sphincter implantation. To improve the evaluation and to compare these techniques with the conventional methods, further investigations with a longer follow-up are necessary.