Moderate Stress Urinary Incontinence Research Articles

Management of Post-RALP SUI and ED - What are and What Should we be Doing?

Although there have been advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques for radical prostatectomy, surgery can still significantly impact continence and erectile function (EF), resulting in considerable quality-of-life impairment. This review critically evaluates existing treatment options for male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and erectile dysfunction (ED) post-robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), alongside exploring emerging trends and discussing future directions for managing and preventing both conditions. Patient history is pivotal in guiding surgical decisions, with the intensity of symptoms and their impact on the patient's life being primary influences for deciding the best treatment options for both SUI and ED. Penile rehabilitation strategies (PR) show promise in mitigating the effects of prostate cancer treatments on EF and improving overall health, though consensus is lacking on specific programs or initiation of timing for optimal recovery post-surgery. All patients undergoing RALP should receive preoperative counseling about SUI and early pelvic floor physical therapy. Fixed and adjustable slings effectively treat mild-to-moderate post-RALP SUI, while the artificial urinary sphincter is the gold standard for men with moderate or severe SUI. EF recovery after RALP faces obstacles such as patient characteristics, compliance, and cost, with no standardized PR approach. Future research should prioritize studies aiming to optimize treatment methods and enhance patient compliance.

Research Progress in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Female Stress Urinary Incontinence by Chinese and Clinical Medicine

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common continence disorder in the female population, and its prevalence increases significantly with age. Although the disease is not life-threatening, it seriously affects daily life, such as work and socializing, and significantly reduces the quality of life, so it is also called "social cancer. "At present, the mechanism of SUI in clinical medicine has not been clarified, and the mechanism of SUI in Chinese medicine is categorized under the category of "failure of the lower Jiao to control and loss of the bladder's restraining function”. In view of the above mechanisms and pathomechanisms, the treatment methods of this disease are diversified, and the treatments of Chinese medicine and clinical medicine take advantage of each other, complement each other, and have remarkable efficacy. In this paper, the latest research developments in the treatment of SUI by Chinese medicine and clinical medicine in recent years are summarized as follows.

The Therapeutic Effect of Monopolar Radiofrequency Therapy on Urinary Symptoms and Sexual Function.

Objectives: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) negatively affects the quality of life and sexual function in women. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) therapy in reducing SUI symptoms and its impact on sexual function. Methods: Thirty-four women with SUI were enrolled and underwent a single RF treatment session using the Viveve® System (Viveve Medical Inc., USA) with parameters of 90 J/cm2 and 220 pulses per hour. Assessments at baseline and 6 months post treatment included perineal ultrasound and personal interviews to evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function. Urodynamic studies, voiding diaries, and questionnaires such as the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) measured outcomes. Results: RF therapy significantly improved sexual function, with higher FSFI scores in all domains except pain at 6 months. SUI symptoms were significantly reduced, as indicated by improved scores on OABSS, UDI-6, IIQ-7, and ICIQ-SF, alongside better voiding diary results. Anatomical changes included reduced bladder neck mobility, decreased vaginal width, and a reduced rotation angle of the proximal urethra. Conclusions: RF therapy is effective and safe for treating mild to moderate SUI and enhances sexual function, potentially due to changes in vaginal topography. These results suggest RF therapy as a viable non-surgical option for managing SUI and improving sexual health.

The Effectiveness of Adding Transvaginal Radiofrequency to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for 6 Weeks in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence. A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial.

The objective was to evaluate the clinically beneficial effect of adding transvaginal monopolar non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on leakage severity, quality of life and urinary incontinence-related symptoms in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A double-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted, with a 6-week intervention and a 6-month follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (PFMT plus RF; n = 18) or the control group (PFMT plus placebo; n = 20). The primary outcome was the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Secondary outcomes included the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), self-efficacy, female sexual function, pelvic floor muscle dynamometry, 1-h pad test and number of SUI episodes per week. Inferential analyses of the data were performed using a two-factor analysis of variance. Both groups achieved a statistically significant improvement in ICIQ-SF over time. However, the differences observed in the experimental group exceeded the minimal clinically important differences by 4 points (MD = -9.4, 95% CI = -12.6 to -6.3), which was not observed in the control group (MD = -3.9, 95% CI = -6.9 to -1.0). This was maintained at the 6-month follow-up with a significant time*group interaction (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.150). There was no time*group interaction in the other variables (p > 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference in favour of the experimental group was observed in the 1-h pad test and episodes of SUI per week (p < 0.05). This study highlights the beneficial effects of adding transvaginal RF to PFMT on the severity and amount of leakage, as well as on the quality of life and urinary incontinence-related symptoms in women with moderate SUI. Future trials are needed to assess the effects of this intervention in women with severe SUI.

The Impact of External Sphincter Grading after Early Apical Release Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate on Postoperative Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Background: Postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) has improved with the early apical release (EAR) technique. However, some patients develop SUI despite using EAR HoLEP. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a novel classification of the external sphincter is correlated with postoperative SUI. Methods: The data of 98 patients who underwent EAR HoLEP for benign prostatic hyperplasia were prospectively analyzed. We propose a novel endoscopic classification of external sphincter appearance after HoLEP graded from 0 (best preserved) to 3 (most degraded). Patients were followed for 6 months postoperatively and administered validated questionnaires. A logistic regression was performed to compare moderate SUI rates at sphincter grade 3, controlling for age, obesity, catheter dependency, and grams resected at 6 weeks and 3 months. Results: The sphincter grades included 6 grade 0, 47 grade 1, 30 grade 2, and 15 grade 3. Patients were divided into a group without SUI (n = 51), and a group with SUI (n = 47) at 6 weeks postoperatively by International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ). Patients with reported SUI on ICIQ were more likely to have sphincter grades ≥2 at 6 weeks (p= 0.001) and 3 months (p < 0.0001). At 6 months, persistent SUI was associated with sphincter grade 3 (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression demonstrated that sphincter grade 3 was associated with clinically significant SUI at 3 months (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Lower sphincter grades are associated with improved return of continence after EAR HoLEP.

Role of Preoperative and Postoperative Endovaginal Ultrasound and 24 h Pad Test in Evaluation of Efficacy of Various Treatment Modalities for Stress Urinary Incontinence

ABSTRACT Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common problem affecting the quality of life of women. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective study conducted over 40 women of SUI by endovaginal ultrasound on rest and Valsalva preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively for levator hiatus (LH), pubovisceral thickness, urethral length, and bladder neck (BN) position. A 24 h pad test was also performed on all women at the same time for grading of SUI. Treatment given was medical in 4 (10%), Burch colposuspension in 18 (45%), and tension-free obturator tape in 18 (45%). Results: The mean age, parity, and body mass index in the study were 41.60 years, 2.73, and 24.2 kg/m2, respectively. All 40 (100%) patients had SUI with a mean duration of symptoms being 4.04 years. On 24 h pad test, mild SUI was in 4 (10%), moderate SUI in 33 (82.5%), and severe SUI in 3 (7.5%) with mean preoperative 24 h pad test being 36.69 g which significantly reduced to 9.79 g postoperatively (P = 0.001). There was significant change in LH and pubovisceral thickness with treatment of SUI. Overall urethral length increased but there was significant decrease in urethral length on Valsalva after the treatment (0.40 cm vs. 0.28 cm, P = 0.04) and significant reduction in BN descent after Valsalva after treatment (0.41 cm vs. 0.27 cm, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Endovaginal ultrasound and 24 h pad test are the useful diagnostic modalities for SUI diagnosis and to see the impact of treatment.

Differentiated approach to the choice of therapy for stress urinary incontinence in women with pelvic floor dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Among the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence is common in young patients. Stress urinary incontinence disrupts psychological health, sexual and social life. The effectiveness of modern conservative treatments for mild stress urinary incontinence in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age is being studied to prevent disease progression and improve the quality of life. AIM: The aim of this study was a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training using the Tyulpan laser vaginal simulator and paraurethral injections of a high-density hyaluronic biopolymer for the correction of stress urinary incontinence in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age with pelvic floor dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 82 patients aged 43.35 ± 6.25 years with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence combined with grade I to II genital prolapse. After general clinical and special studies, including voiding diaries, Urgency Bother Visual Analogue Scale, cough test, ultrasound of the urethrovesical junction and pelvic floor, 41 women were prescribed a course of remote pelvic floor muscle training under medical supervision using the Tyulpan laser vaginal simulator (group I). 41 patients underwent paraurethral injection of 4.0 ml of high-density hyaluronic biopolymer crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (group II). The effectiveness of therapy was evaluated one, six and 12 months after the start of treatment. RESULTS: After one month, the absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes based on voiding diaries was found in 29.4% of patients in group I and in 85.4% of patients in group II (2.9 times more often) (p 0.001); after 12 months, in 73.1% of patients in group I and in 36.4% of patients in group II (half as often) (p = 0.011). After one month, a negative cough test was detected in 65.0% of women in group I and in 92.1% of women in group II (1.4 times more often) (p = 0.023). After six months, the results of treatment for stress urinary incontinence based on the cough test were not different and amounted to 80.0% in group I and 71.9% in group II (p = 0.725). When assessing the pelvic floor muscle strength using the Oxford Scale and perineometry, an increase in strength after one and six months was detected in 100% of patients in group I (p 0.001). Both techniques equally reduced urethral mobility as measured by ultrasound over the one-month follow-up. Pelvic floor muscle training more significantly improved the quality of life of women 12 months after the start of therapy (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of high-density hyaluronic biopolymer leads to a rapid and pronounced positive result in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and an improvement in the quality of life in the short term; it is recommended for patients interested in quickly achieving results, informed about the limited duration of the effect. Regular training of the pelvic floor muscles in biofeedback mode under the remote control of a doctor contributes to better results in the long term. This method is recommended for women who are able to contract the pelvic floor muscles and are ready for regular exercise.

Bipolar Radiofrequency and Non-Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid Plus Calcium Hydroxyapatite in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) causes both physical and psychological problems to women and their partners. Recently, vaginal radiofrequency (RF) application, as well as the administration of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (NCLHA) together with calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), has attracted attention for SUI treatment. The current, comparative study evaluated the efficacy and safety of these technologies acting separately and in a combined treatment. Sixty women with mild to moderate SUI, aged between 46 and 76 years (mean age 63.2) were divided into three groups intended for different treatments: group I, RF vaginal treatment only, group II, NCLHA plus CaHA periurethral injection only, group III, combined treatment including a single periurethral injection of NCLHA plus CaHA followed by four vaginal applications of RF at intervals of 3-5 days. The clinical effects of the treatments were evaluated by ICIQ-LUTSqol (Polish version) and UDI-6. The obtained results suggest that the symptoms of SUI and the quality of life of the patients improved significantly in each group after the therapies compared to the pre-treatment levels and were more persistent in the third HA + RF group compared to the HA or the RF group.

Long-term efficacy and safety of a bioresorbable polycaprolactone-based injectable in female stress incontinence

A fully bioresorbable polycaprolactone (PCL)-based bulking agent was evaluated for safety and efficacy in female patients with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who attempted and failed prior pelvic floor muscle training. A total of 44 adult female subjects with mild or moderate SUI (median age 60 and 57, respectively) were treated by transurethral sub-mucosal injection. Safety was evaluated at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up visits. Efficacy was assessed at the same intervals with the Stamey grading system (SGS). SGS improvement was shown in both the mild and moderate SUI groups. At 24 months, most participants were continent: 78.1% in the mild SUI group and 66.7% in the moderate SUI group. All participants in the moderate SUI group showed an improvement in the SGS grade, and most participants were continent. The study shows that the PCL-based bioresorbable bulking agent treatment seems to be a safe and effective treatment option for women with mild to moderate SUI who attempted and failed prior pelvic floor exercises.

Minimally invasive correction of stress urinary incontinence in women with pelvic floor dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor dysfunction is widespread among young women. Stress urinary incontinence is a common manifestation of the dysfunction and, even in mild forms, affects the quality of life of patients. Much attention is focused on finding and improving minimally invasive methods for treating stress urinary incontinence in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age to prevent disease progression and improve quality of life.&#x0D; AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term results of paraurethral injections of a high-density hyaluronic biopolymer for the correction of stress urinary incontinence in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 37 patients aged 44.6 ± 4.7 years with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence combined with grade I to II genital prolapse. After general clinical and special studies (urination diaries, King’s and Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, cough test, complex urodynamic study, ultrasound examination of the urethrovesical junction and pelvic floor ultrasound with compression elastography), paraurethral injection of 4.0 ml of the high-density hyaluronic biopolymer crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether was performed. The effectiveness of therapy was evaluated 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure.&#x0D; RESULTS: A negative cough test was detected after one, six and 12 months of follow-up in 96.9, 73.1 and 43.8 % of women, respectively; the absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes according to urination diaries was in 85.7, 61.3 and 35.0 % of patients, respectively. Gradual resorption of the drug was monitored over 12 months of observation. An ultrasound examination showed a decrease in urethral mobility one month after the procedure. According to the results of elastography before treatment, the average value of the strain ratio of paraurethral tissues was 0.50 (0.30–0.69) (p 0.001), after one and six months — 0.88 (0.76–1.03) and 0.79 (0.66–1.07) (p 0.001 and p = 0.005 respectively). Thus, the stiffness of the paraurethral tissues of the proximal posterior wall of the urethra increased within six months after the procedure. When observing women after 12 months, the stiffness values of the studied tissues decreased and approached the values before treatment. During the entire observation period, the patients noted a decrease in the degree of discomfort due to problems with urination according to the questionnaires.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of the high-density hyaluronic biopolymer helps to increase the stiffness of paraurethral tissues and improve the structural support of the urethra in patients with stress urinary incontinence. After the procedure, a 12-month follow-up revealed a decrease or absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes according to urination diaries and the preservation of the positive effect of treatment according to the results of the cough test. A gradual decrease in the effect of therapy is associated with biodegradation of the drug. This method of treating mild forms of stress urinary incontinence is effective for women of reproductive and perimenopausal age who do not plan surgical treatment, are interested in achieving a quick result of therapy and are informed that the effect decreases over time after the procedure.

Current Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence by Bulking Agents and Laser Therapy-An Update.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects around 20% of women. In addition to the established suburethral sling insertion, two less invasive approaches are of interest today: urethral bulking agents and vaginal laser therapy. This review discusses articles through December 2023 identified by a PubMed literature search using the keywords "incontinence" and "bulking" or "laser". Although the two approaches are less effective than sling insertions, there are specific conditions in which one or the other technique is more advantageous. Injecting bulking agents into the urethra only takes some minutes and works without general anesthesia. The method is particularly suited for elderly, frail, or obese patients with multiple comorbidities, but is also applicable for all patients and in combination with other therapies. Generally, the safety profile is good but differs between bulking materials. Two laser types-the Erbium:YAG laser with SMOOTH-mode and the fractional ablative CO2 laser-deliver heat into the tissue to induce tissue tightening and regeneration. Intravaginal laser therapy improves mild to moderate SUI, while studies describe how intraurethral laser therapy is also beneficial for severe SUI. Young women between childbirths, as well as postmenopausal women, may benefit from laser therapy. The method is safe, can be performed on an outpatient basis, and does not require any artificial material.

Effect of home-based core exercises on postpartum stress urinary incontinence during COVID-19 pandemic in Jeddah city: a randomised control trial

IntroductionIntroduction. Postpartum stress urinary incontinence affects many women worldwide; it may exist during pregnancy or postpartum with a risk of permanence increasing five years later. This study aimed to determine the effect of home-based core exercises on postpartum stress urinary incontinence during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Jeddah city.MethodsRandomised control trial was conducted on 26 postpartum women aged 25–40 years with mild or moderate grade stress urinary incontinence and a body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups (A &amp; B). Group A performed home-based core exercises and pelvic floor muscle training for twenty-four sessions three times weekly for eight weeks; each session lasted 30 minutes. Group B performed home-based PFMT only. The assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) was measured with the Modified Oxford Grading Scale, while the 1-hour pad test and International Consolation on Incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ UI- SF) total score served to assess incontinence severity before and after treatment.ResultsThe results showed a significant improvement in PFMs strength and endurance in both groups and there was a highly significant difference between groups, favouring the study group (A). There was a highly significant difference between the groups in the 1-hour pad test and ICIQ-SF total score, favouring the study group (A).ConclusionsHome-based core exercises for postpartum SUI women were an effective method to improve PFMs strength and endurance and minimise SUI symptoms.

Сравнительная оценка воздействия различных физических факторов на качество жизни женщин с диагнозом недержание мочи при напряжении

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated application of pulsating low-frequency alternating electric and intense focused electromagnetic fields, as well as isolated exposure to intense focused electromagnetic fields in order to improve the quality of life of women with stress urinary incontinence. Design. Prospective randomized study. Key points. The study involved 105 menopausal and postmenopausal women aged 46-62 years (average age — 55.1 ± 4.4 years) with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence, the duration of the disease was 5.8 ± 2.5 years. The patients were divided into three groups with comparable clinical and functional characteristics: the main group (n = 35) received complex treatment, including high-intensity focused electromagnetic (VIFEM) therapy and electrostatic massage using a pulsating low-frequency alternating electric field, the comparison group (n = 35) underwent VIFEM therapy, the control group (n = 35) included women who were prescribed conservative treatment, including a bladder training program and behavioral therapy. The psychoemotional state and overall quality of life of the patients before and after treatment were assessed based on data obtained using a short form of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and the QOL (Quality of Life) scale. Results. After the therapy, there was an improvement in QOL scores in the main group by 65.7% (p &lt; 0.01), in the comparison group by 40% (p &lt; 0.05) and in the control group by 8-18% (p &gt; 0.05), as well as a decrease in the IIQ-7 questionnaire, especially in the main group — an average of 3.23 times, which was confirmed by a significant decrease in the sum of points: from the initial 13.6 ± 0.2 to 4.2 ± 0.02 after treatment (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion. The combined use of pulsating low-frequency alternating electric and high-intensity focused electromagnetic fields in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, compared with single exposure, provides a significant improvement in both the physical and emotional state of patients and significantly improves their quality of life, which allows it to be recommended for use in a wide clinical practice. Key words: stress urinary incontinence in women, the condition of the pelvic floor muscles, electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, pulsating low-frequency alternating electric field, intense focused electromagnetic field, improvement of quality of life.

Comparing the Efficacy of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises and Kegel Exercises on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Pilot Study.

Background and objective Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a prevalent condition affecting women of various age groups, significantly impacting their quality of life. To address this multifaceted issue, a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional pelvic floor exercises is needed. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) exercises, targeting the integrated spinal stabilization system, offera promising alternative. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of DNS exercises and Kegel exercises in managing SUI among women. Methods This single-blinded, pilot study involved 24 women aged 18-40 years with mild to moderate SUI. Participants were divided into DNS and Kegel exercise groups. Outcome measures included perineometer readings, electromyography (EMG) data, and the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6). Statistical analysis compared baseline and 12-week data within and between groups, and rank-biserial correlation coefficient (r) as a measure of effect size in our study wascalculated. Results At 12 weeks, the DNS group showed significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength compared to Kegel exercises (p = 0.005). Both groups had significantly enhanced pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.05). A significant change occurred for EMG average, EMG peak, and EMG maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 12 weeks (average p = 0.005; peak p = 0.001; MVC p = 0.009), with significant improvements in both groups (p < 0.05). For UDI-6, a significant difference emerged between the two groups at 12 weeks (p < 0.05), with significant improvements in both groups individually from baseline to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). The effect size "r" for all variables indicated a medium to large effect size, underscoring the substantial and significant impact of DNS exercises in managing SUI among women compared to Kegel exercises. Conclusion This study suggests that DNS exercises, emphasizing the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, abdominals, multifidus, and pelvic floor, may provide a more effective approach for managing SUI in women compared to traditional Kegel exercises.

Clinical study of pelvic floor electromyography Biofeedback combined with “four sacral needles” in the treatment of mild to moderate female stress Urinary incontinence

Clinical study of pelvic floor electromyography Biofeedback combined with “four sacral needles” in the treatment of mild to moderate female stress Urinary incontinence

Comparison of Low-Energy Radiofrequency Thermal Vaginal Therapy with Sham Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Low-energy radiofrequency (RF) thermal vaginal therapy for vaginal laxity and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause denatures collagen fibrils in the endopelvic fascia; fiber tightening during healing may stabilize the urethra and bladder neck, thereby resolving female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), especially in postmenopausal women. This study compared RF vaginal therapy with sham treatment for mild to moderate SUI. This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, conducted at a tertiary center from September 2018 to April 2021, recruited postmenopausal women with mild to moderate degree of SUI who had never undergone surgery, energy-based therapy, or vaginal estrogen treatment. The intervention group received vaginal RF laser treatment; the sham group did not. The primary outcome was the 1-hour pad-weight test (PWT) result. Secondary outcomes were Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), percentage of improvement among all participants, and adverse events. Data were analyzed using STATA 17.0. Forty-nine participants randomized to RF (n = 23) and sham (n = 26) groups were eligible for analysis. PWT decreased during follow-up in the RF group but remained stable in the sham group; PWT did not significantly differ between groups. The 1-year post-treatment success rate was higher in the RF group (69.6%) than in the sham group (38.5%). At 1 year post-treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in any secondary outcomes. Low-energy RF vaginal therapy is an alternative treatment for mild to moderate SUI in postmenopausal women without serious adverse events. Larger randomized controlled trials should be conducted.

AdVance™ male sling for stress urinary incontinence: Long-term follow-up and patient satisfaction.

To evaluate long-term effects, complications and satisfaction among patients treated with AdVance™ and AdVance™ XP slings (AS) at a Norwegian specialist care hospital. Patients who had an AS implanted due to stress urinary incontinence (SUI) 2009-2016 were identified retrospectively. Demographic and perioperative data were extracted from electronic patient files. We did a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) survey with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-26) urinary domain and a Satisfaction Questionnaire (SQ) 2018-2020. Cure was defined as use of ≤1 pad/day. The AS was implanted in 165 patients, mainly due to mild to moderate SUI (median leakage 112 g, range 13-589 g/24 h). Preoperative urodynamics showed mild detrusor overactivity (DO) in 11 patients. At 6-week follow-up, 148 patients (90%) were cured. The most common complication was urinary retention (N = 38), transient in 32 patients (range 1-42 days). Two patients were later operated with division of the sling due to persistent retention. During clinical follow-up of up to 12 years, 27 patients were reoperated due to persistent/recurrent incontinence. The PROM survey was sent to 125 patients and 115 (92%) replied at median 73 (20-134) months postoperatively. Ninety-one (79%) used ≤1 pads/day, 97 (85%) were satisfied, one patient-reported pain. Regression analyses showed that failure (>1 pad/day) was significantly associated with a higher amount of leakage preoperatively and at the 6-week follow-up. Total cure rate in the complete cohort was 64% at median 73 (20-134) months follow-up. The AS shows good and persistent long-term results in patients with mild to moderate SUI. The only identified risk factor for long-term failure was higher amount of leakage preoperatively. The incidence of high body mass index (BMI), DO and previous radiotherapy was low and not significantly associated with failure but is still considered risk factors.

Adjustable Male Sling for The Treatment of Postprostatectomy Stress Urinary Incontinence: Intermediate-Term Follow-Up Results.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of adjustable male sling (Argus®) implantation in the management of post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) with intermediate-term follow-up results. Materials and methods The data on adjustable male sling surgery between September 2015 and September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were preoperatively evaluated with a voiding diary, 24-hour pad test, and validated questionnaire. Functional outcomes were also evaluated using 24-hour pad requirement and pad weight, and the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICIQ-SF) score. Results A total of 16 patients (eight having undergone the transurethral resection of the prostate [TUR-P] and eight radical prostatectomy [RP]) were enrolled in the study. Thirteen patients had moderate (81.25%) PPI, and three patients (18.75%) had severe PPI. With the mean follow-up of 36.9±14.3 months, nine patients (56.2%) were noted as cured and four (25%) as improved, with an overall success rate of 81.2%. At the last follow-up visit, the median number of pads used per day decreased from 3.5 to 1, and the 24-hour pad test result decreased from 300 to 50 gr (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The ICIQ-SF score decreased from the initial mean of 15.8 ± 2.3 to 7.1 ± 6.6 (p < 0.001). When the outcomes were compared according to the etiology, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.522). Conclusions Male sling surgery can be performed safely in patients with moderate and severe stress urinary incontinence with low complication and high success rates. The results of TUR-P-related PPI are similar to those of surgery performed due to the etiology of RP.

Clinical and Urodynamic results of the Argus T® sling in moderate and severe male stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy - a 5 year prospective study.

Sling as a therapeutic option for male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been reviewed in the last two decades, as it is a relatively simpliest surgery compared to artificial urinary sphincter and has the ability to modulate urethral compression. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, rate of complications, quality of life and the effects on bladder emptying of the Argus T® compressive and ajustable sling in moderate and severe male SUI treatment. Men eligible for stress urinary incontinence treatment after radical prostatectomy were recruited and prospectively evaluated, from March 2010 to November 2016. It was selected outpatient men with moderate and severe SUI, after 12 months of radical prostatectomy, who have failed conservative treatment. All patients had a complete clinical and urodynamic pre and post treatment evaluation, by means of clinical history, physical examination, urine culture, 1-hour pad test and ICIq-SF questionnaire. The UDS was performed after 12, 18 and 24 months postoperatively. Thirty-seven men underwent sling surgery, 19 patients (51.4%) with moderate and 18 (48.6%) with severe SUI. The minimum follow-up time was 5 years. Overall, we had a success rate of 56.7% at 60 months follow-up. After surgery, we did not observe significant changes in the urodynamic parameters evaluated during the follow-up. No patient had urodynamic bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) after sling implantation. Readjustment of the Argus T® sling was performed in 16 (41%) of the patients and 51% of the patients reported some adverse event. We demonstrate a long-term efficacy and safety of Sling Argus T® as an alternative to moderate and severe male SUI treatment. Furthermore, in our study bulbar urethra compression does not lead to bladder outlet obstruction.

Development and use of machine learning models for prediction of male sling success: A proof-of-concept institutional evaluation.

For mild to moderate male stress urinary incontinence (SUI), transobturator male slings remain an effective option for management. We aim to use a machine learning (ML)-based model to predict those who will have a long-term success in managing SUI with male sling. All transobturator male sling cases from August 2006 to June 2012 by a single surgeon were reviewed. Outcome of interest was defined as 'cure': complete dryness with 0 pads used, without the need for additional procedures. Clinical variables included in ML models were: number of pads used daily, age, height, weight, race, incontinence type, etiology of incontinence, history of radiation, smoking, bladder neck contracture, and prostatectomy. Model performance was assessed using AUROC, AUPRC, and F1-score. A total of 181 patients were included in the model. The mean followup was 56.4 months (standard deviation [SD] 41.6). Slightly more than half (53.6%, 97/181) of patients had procedural success. Logistic regression, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), naive Bayes, decision tree, and random forest models were developed using ML. KNN model had the best performance, with AUROC of 0.759, AUPRC of 0.916, and F1-score of 0.833. Following ensemble learning with bagging and calibration, KNN model was further improved, with AUROC of 0.821, AUPRC of 0.921, and F-1 score of 0.848. ML-based prediction of long-term transobturator male sling is feasible. The low numbers of patients used to develop the model prompt further validation and development of the model but may serve as a decision-making aid for practitioners in the future.