Early activation of artificial urinary sphincter for stress incontinence is safe: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) activation is usually deferred until 6 weeks following insertion. However, this timeframe for activation is based on traditional dogma. This study aims to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of earlier activation of AUS. Methods: A prospective database was established on consecutive patients undergoing AUS implantation (AMS-800 Boston Scientific) from March 2019 to March 2022 by a single fellowship-trained urologist. Early activation was defined as <30 days from the date of implantation. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in the study with a median follow-up of 34 (range: 3–96) months. The most common indication for AUS insertion was post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence ( n = 19, 90%). All 21 patients had their AUS successfully activated and used before 30 days, with a median of 14 (range: 9–28) days. Median (range) pre-operative continence pad numbers were 3 (2–6) and 0 (0–1) at 4 weeks post-operatively. Median (range) pad weight per day was 600 g (190–1310 g) pre-operatively and 6 g (0–6 g) at 4 weeks post-operatively. There were no adverse events associated with early activation. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first description of the early activation of the AMS-800 AUS device. Our preliminary experience indicates early activation is safe and acceptable for patients. Level of evidence: II