Louisiana State University Health Shreveport Archives

Louisiana State University Health Shreveport

Best Treatment for Male Incontinence: Sphincter

Posted by Alexander Gomelsky, MD, FACS | Feb 2021

In the second part of this urologic debate, Alexander Gomelsky, MD, FACS, B.E. Trichel Professor and Chair of the Department of Urology at LSU Health Shreveport, argues that artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the best treatment for post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence. Dr. Gomelsky first describes possible surgical complications and how to set patient expectations, then reviews data on AUS and the male sling, and finally contrasts the benefits of AUS against the sling. In comparison with the sling, which is best used in patients with mild incontinence, AUS can handle any degree of incontinence including severe and persistent presentations. Noting that AUS can also be used in patients who have undergone radical therapy, those with prior urethral stricture or bladder neck contracture, and those who have undergone urethral bulking, Dr. Gomelsky suggests that AUS outperforms the sling in all scenarios. Additionally, data suggests that a sphincter would be placed after a sling failure, further underscoring its utility. Brian S. Christine, MD, argues in favor of using a sling in the first part of the debate here.

Current Diagnosis and Management of Female Stress Incontinence

Posted by Alexander Gomelsky, MD, FACS | Nov 2020

Alexander Gomelsky, MD, FACS, B.E. Trichel Professor and Chair in the Department of Urology at LSU Health Shreveport, discusses current guidance regarding the diagnosis and surgical management of female stress incontinence (SUI). He frames his presentation around the 2017 AUA/SUFU Guidelines which, while based on more high-level evidence than prior guidelines, still use an index patient who does not match the majority of women urologists are likely to see for SUI. Dr. Gomelsky particularly focuses on this limitation, noting for instance that doing urodynamic testing, which does not appear to be useful for index patients, can help urologists meet the particular needs of non-index patients (e.g., women of advanced age, women with high BMIs, women suffering from recurrent/persistent SUI, women who have had prior surgery for SUI, etc.). He further discusses both the benefits and adverse events associated with different available surgical therapies for treating SUI, emphasizing that while mesh for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse has been banned, evidence still supports mesh placed abdominally for pelvic organ prolapse, as well as midurethral slings for SUI.