The Virtue quadratic male sling for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: 3-Year outcome measurements and a predictive model of surgical outcome from a European prospective observational study.

AIMS: This prospective multicenter observational study evaluated postprostatectomy incontinence treatment outcomes with Virtue male sling at 12 and 36 months. METHODS: Objective assessment was based on a 24-h pad weight test with improvement defined by a decrease >50% and cure by less than 1.3 g. Subjective assessment was based on the patient global impression of improvement and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-urinary incontinence-short form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaires. Subgroups were analyzed by baseline severity of incontinence on a 24-h-pad test, body mass index (BMI), and pads usage. Factors associated with treatment response were assessed using logistic regression at Months 36. Complications were reported. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 117 men. Objective and subjective improvement were achieved in 54% and 35% and 51% and 34% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Twenty-one percent and 19% were considered cured, respectively, at 12 and 36 months. No differences per baseline incontinence severity, BMI and pads usage were found at 36 months. Mean ICIQ-UI-SF score decreased from 15 to 9. Predictive factors were BMI, postvoid residual urine, number of nighttime urination, and ICIQ total score. Seven Clavien-Dindo Grade III (5.1%) including four Virtue sling revisions were reported. The most frequent Grade II complications were overactive bladder symptoms and pain reported in 10.3% and 2.9%, respectively. No complications required explantation. CONCLUSIONS: Virtue male sling is safe and effective in males with mild to severe postprostatectomy urinary incontinence over 36 months. Virtue could be considered an interesting option for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence with positive results over time even in patients with high BMI. The predictive model should be validated by further studies.

Position of the Ibero-American Society of Neurourology and Urogynecology in relation to the use of synthetic suburethral meshes for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence.

AIMS: The aim of this paper is to stablish de position of the Ibero-American Society of Neurourology and Urogynecology (SINUG) in relation to the use of suburethral meshes for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence. METHODS: Tension-free mid-urethral slings (MUS) have become the most popular procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In July 2018, the British government announced a pause in the use of meshes for both pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI) treatment without differentiating whether the meshes were used for treating UI or POP. The decision was taken to stop their use until the publication of the updated UI and POP guidelines of the British National Health Service, which is available from April 2019. SINUG has reviewed the evidence and official position of different societies in relation to the safety and efficacy of MUS in the surgical treatment of incontinence differentiating them from meshes used to repair POP. RESULTS: Data from synthetic mesh manufacturers indicate that in 2010, 300 000 women underwent surgical procedures to repair POP and approximately 260 000 were operated on for SUI. According to these estimates, approximately more than 80% of the surgical techniques for UI treatment were performed transvaginally with meshes. CONCLUSIONS: Once reviewed evidence and position of different societies, the SINUG presents its vision in this communication, which is a summary of the document analysing the state of topic prepared by the society.

The 3-day bladder diary is a feasible, reliable and valid tool to evaluate the lower urinary tract symptoms in women.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility (% of completion), reliability (test-retest and inter-observer) and validity (convergent vs. questionnaires and vs. urodynamic study-UDS) of the 3-day bladder diary (3dBD) in women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: Epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study. Fourteen Functional Urology and Urodynamic Units participated. One hundred thirty-six women with mean age (SD) 55.2 (13.8) years with LUTS, without bladder catheterization and who were able to fill in the 3dBD were included. An UDS was performed. They filled in the 3dBD in two times separated by 15 days (test and retest), the International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and the Bladder Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire (BSAQ). RESULTS: One hundred ten women completed 3dBD for test and retest. Feasibility: each 3dBD has 42 variables, 77.2% women completed 80%. Test-retest reliability: there were not differences in the proportion of patients classified as positive for each symptom (urgency: P = 0.3173; incontinence: P = 1; nocturia: P = 0.0522; frequency: P = 0.4386). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.67 to 0.92, except for night time VVmax which was lower (0.54). Inter-observer reliability: ICC ranged from 0.64 to 0.99, except for day time VVmax (0.29) and the number of urgency episodes (0.45). VALIDITY: Spearman correlation coefficients for ICIQ-UI SF and BSAQ ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 (P < 0.0001) and for UDS were lower (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 3dBD showed good feasibility, reliability and validity to be used in the assessment of LUTS in women.

Insights into the Management of Overactive Bladder with Transdermal Oxybutynin: A Practical Review.

Overactive bladder (OAB), clinically defined as urinary urgency, with or without incontinence, generally accompanied by an increase in urinary frequency and nocturia, after any local disease or metabolic disorder that would explain these symptoms have been ruled out, is a highly prevalent condition that affects millions of men and women worldwide. Not only can the symptoms of OAB be very bothersome, but OAB can have significant detrimental effects on many aspects of individuals' lives, representing a particularly impactful health burden to quality of life and productivity. Besides a wide range of conservative treatments, the clinical efficacy of which remains an open issue, antimuscarinics are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for this condition but anticholinergic troublesome side effects like dry mouth, and the patient's perception of lack of efficacy and poor adherence, are common reasons of abandonment of treatment. An alternative to oral administration treatment, with a lower incidence of dry mouth and other anticholinergic adverse effects, might be attractive to patients and a real treatment option for physicians. Delivery of oxybutynin directly through the skin with oxybutynin transdermal (OXY-TDS) avoids the first-pass hepatic metabolism that occurs with orally administered oxybutynin and prevents the appearance of anticholinergic adverse events. OXY-TDS being equally effective than oral treatment improves adherence, persistence, and patient satisfaction. The aim of this review is to focus on evidence available of the use of OXY-TDS in the management of patients with OAB, and to help clinicians in the challenges involved in the treatment options for patients with this condition.

[Management of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.] / Manejo del paciente neurourológico durante la pandemia COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES:  To report the recommendations of an expert panel to reorganize Neurourology units and to prioritize examinations and both conservative and surgical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-systematic review of the literature and national experts' opinion summarizing the recommendations in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. A modified nominal group technique was used due to extraordinary meeting and mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Neurourological patients have special physiological and pathological characteristics that make them more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. For prioritization purposes, they encompass in Functional Urology patients and their management is considered non-urgentor delayable with no specific deadline of recovery from normality. However, it is important to identify individual situations jeopardising the upper urinary tract, urinary retention or predisposing to urinary infections/sepsis. A classification is provided prioritizing conservative/outpatient management and the surgical treatment of the events occurring in neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In neurourological patients we can find exceptional clinical situations in which a delayed treatment could develop irreversible changes in the upper urinary tract, advocating a more urgent treatment inspecific scenarios.

OBJETIVOS: Exponer las recomendaciones de un comité de expertos para la reorganización de las unidades de neurourología y la priorización de estudios y tratamientos durante la pandemia COVID-19.MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Revisión no sistemática de la literatura científica y opinión de expertos nacionales  para resumir las recomendaciones en el diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. Se utiliza una técnica de grupo nominal modificada debido a las restricciones extraordinarias de reunión y movilidad durante la pandemia COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Los pacientes neurourológicos poseen características fisiopatológicas especiales que les hace más vulnerables frente a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Han sido englobados en general en el grupo de la Urología Funcional, relegando su manejo al de las situaciones no urgentes y demorables sin plazo concreto de recuperación de la normalidad. Sin embargo, es importante identificar situaciones específicas en las que exista compromiso funcional del aparato urinario superior, retención urinaria, o desarrollo de infecciones/sepsis urinaria. Se realiza una clasificación según el nivel de prioridad tanto del manejo ambulatorio y conservador como del tratamiento quirúrgico de eventos relacionados con pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. CONCLUSIONES: En los pacientes neurourológicos encontramos situaciones clínicas excepcionales en las que un retraso de su tratamiento puede conllevar alteraciones irreversibles en el tracto urinario superior, dada su condición de vejiga de riesgo funcional, por lo que debe individualizarse un manejo más precoz en ciertos escenarios.

[Tolerability, persistence and satisfaction. Retrospective cohort study in patients with overactive bladder syndrome treated with transdermal Oxybutynin under Standard ClinicAl pRactice. OSCAR Study.] / Tolerabilidad, persistencia y satisfacción. Estudio de cohortes retrospectivas realizado en condiciones de práctica clínica habitual en pacientes con síndrome de vejiga hiperactiva tratados con oxibutinina transdérmica. Estudio OSCAR.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the tolerability, persistenceand satisfaction of patients with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) treated with transdermal oxybutynin (OXY-TDS). METHODS: Observational, retrospective, multicenter study, in patients with OAB who had started treatment with OXY-TDS at least 12 months before their inclusion. Tolerability was evaluated by number, severity criteria, resolution type of adverse reactions, and cognitive function with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), at 1 year of treatment. The patients who remained under treatment during the observation period were considered persistent. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using an ad hoc questionnaire. RESULTS: The clinical history of 105 patients was evaluated. 92.4% were women. The mean age of all the patients was 59.4 ± 11.8 years. After 12 months of treatment, dry mouth was present in 5.7% of patients and 27.6% had mild or moderate adverse reactions in the area of application. The persistence in treatment was 55.2%. The use of the OXY-TDS was considered comfortable or very comfortable by 92.9% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study performed in patients with OAB shows that OXY-TDS provides low incidence of systemic adverse effects, including dry mouth, high persistence, improved adherence rates and high satisfaction of patients after one year of treatment.