An adjustable sling for the treatment of all degrees of male stress urinary incontinence: retrospective evaluation of efficacy and complications after a minimal followup of 14 months.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study we evaluated the efficacy and complications of the Argus® adjustable sling for the treatment of various degrees of male stress urinary incontinence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively we evaluated continence and complications in 100 men with stress urinary incontinence consecutively treated with the Argus between April 2005 and October 2008. Incontinence was defined as mild (1 to 2 pads per 24 hours), moderate (3 to 5 pads per 24 hours) and severe (more than 5 pads per 24 hours). Patient evaluation included medical history, pad count, a quality of life score, Patient Global Impression of Improvement and visual analog scale measurements to determine satisfaction with continence and with treatment. Results and complications were evaluated 6 weeks after surgery and in December 2009.

RESULTS: After a median followup of 27 months (range 14 to 57) the Argus was successful in 72% of patients (68 of 95). Mild incontinence was treated in 13, moderate incontinence in 46 and severe incontinence in 41 patients. Success rates stratified to degree of incontinence were 92% (12 of 13), 67% (29 of 43) and 67% (26 of 39), respectively. Complications occurred in 55% of patients and most were Clavien grade I to II. Visual analog scale measurements on continence and quality of life showed significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONS: The Argus adjustable male sling is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of all degrees of stress urinary incontinence. Complications are not uncommon but are mostly Clavien grade I to II. Patients report significantly improved continence and quality of life after treatment.