Treatment of Male Stress Urinary Incontinence
Brian S. Christine, MD, provides guidance on the assessment and treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy. Dr. Christine begins by discussing the pelvic support changes that happen in men post-prostatectomy, the relationship between the loss of pelvic support and incontinence, and the different mechanisms behind moderate and severe SUI.
Dr. Christine encourages urologists to assess each post-prostatectomy patient presenting with SUI symptoms using a thorough work-up to determine SUI mechanism and severity, an awake cystoscopy to visualize the function of the external sphincter, and a Standing Cough Test. He explains that these three steps in SUI assessment allows the attending physician to ensure that the treatment will match the severity and mechanism of the patient’s incontinence.
He then explores the process of selecting the optimal treatment between the two principal surgical options for treating male SUI: the male sling and the artificial urinary sphincter. Dr. Christine reiterates the importance of tailoring the therapy based on the information gathered during the assessment, and advises urologists to visit surgeon educators on-site and develop their surgical placement skills.
Dr. Christine concludes by exploring the treatment of recurrent SUI in men who have been previously treated for SUI. He provides guidance on treating men with a prior male sling and men with a malfunctioning or affected artificial urinary sphincter.
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