Pelvic floor muscle training in males: practical applications.

The pelvic floor muscles are vital to male genitourinary health. Pelvic floor muscle training may prove helpful in a variety of clinical circumstances: stress urinary incontinence that follows prostate surgery, overactive bladder, postvoid dribbling, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation issues including premature ejaculation, and pelvic pain due to levator muscle spasm.

Urethral necrosis and proximal urethro-vaginal fistula resulting from tension-free vaginal tape.

Urethral erosion is an uncommon complication after sub-urethral sling placement using the TVT procedure. Strangulation necrosis of the entire distal urethra with a fistulous connection between proximal urethra and vagina is a devastating complication that has not been previously reported, resulting in significant morbidity and the necessity for challenging management. This is a report of a 64-year-old woman with stress urinary incontinence who underwent a TVT resulting in a large fistula between the proximal urethra and the vagina, and the necrosis of the entire urethra distal to the fistula. This problem necessitated a staged reconstruction involving three separate procedures. Initially, she underwent debridement and removal of the TVT fragments, a secondary vaginal flap urethroplasty with a labial fibro-fatty graft to restore urethral length, and a tertiary coaptive occlusive sling to restore continence.

Vaginal mesh extrusion associated with use of Mentor transobturator sling.

OBJECTIVES: To describe my experience of vaginal mesh extrusion using the monofilament polypropylene transobturator sling, the Mentor ObTape. The Mentor ObTape was the first transobturator sling developed as an alternative to the retropubic commercially available suburethral slings for providing mid-urethral support as treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: Thirty patients underwent transobturator suburethral sling placement for anatomic stress urinary incontinence using the ObTape from October 2003 to January 2005. A retrospective chart review was performed to retrieve data on the safety, efficacy, complications, and outcomes using this product. RESULTS: Six patients (20%) to date have presented with defective vaginal healing manifested by extrusion of the sling material. Five patients required surgical removal of the sling material, and one underwent a trial of conservative management. No urethral erosions were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In my experience, the Mentor ObTape sling, which uses a nonwoven, minimally elastic, micropore, monofilament polypropylene mesh, incurs an unacceptably high rate of defective vaginal wound healing and mesh extrusion.

High incidence of vaginal mesh extrusion using the intravaginal slingplasty sling.

PURPOSE: The intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) is a tension-free vaginal tape variant that uses a multi-filament polypropylene tape to support the mid urethra for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Numerous cases of defective vaginal wound healing have been described in the international urogynecological literature. We describe our experience of vaginal mesh extrusion using the IVS sling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 35 patients underwent suburethral sling procedures for anatomical stress urinary incontinence using the IVS system from November 2002 to September 2003. A retrospective chart review was performed to retrieve data on safety and efficacy, complications and outcomes using this product. RESULTS: Six patients (17%) to date have presented with defective vaginal healing manifested by extrusion of the sling material. Mean time to presenting symptoms was 9 months (range 2 to 15). All patients required surgical removal of the sling material. No urethral erosions were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that the IVS sling system, which uses a multi-filament polypropylene suburethral mesh, incurs an unacceptably high rate of defective vaginal wound healing and mesh extrusion.

New surgical technique for sphincter urinary control system using upper transverse scrotal incision.

PURPOSE: Traditional implantation of the AMS Sphincter 800 Urinary Control System (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota) requires 2 incisions. The cuff is placed via a perineal incision, and the pressure regulating balloon and pump are placed through a separate suprapubic incision. We describe a novel implantation of all the artificial urinary sphincter components using a single upper scrotal incision. The scrotal incision allows excellent access to the proximal bulbar urethra and retropubic and subdartos spaces, and leaves the bulbocavernosus muscle intact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 patients have undergone artificial urinary sphincter implantation using the new operative technique for revisions or reimplantations of a sphincter previously removed for infection/erosion (12) or as an initial procedure (25). In 9 of the 25 patients and 2 of the 12 dual implantation of a 3-piece penile prosthesis through the same incision was performed. RESULTS: All patients are using the devices. Of the patients 66% are completely dry with no pad use and the remainder use 1 pad for accident prevention. Operative time was reduced due to easier exposure of the urethra and a second incision for placement of the pressure regulating balloon was not necessary. Followup at 1 year shows no difference in complication rate with the single incision technique compared to the traditional method. CONCLUSIONS: Artificial urinary sphincter implantation through a single scrotal incision is easier and faster than the traditional 2-incision technique. Success in achieving continence is similar to traditional methods. Long-term followup is necessary to ensure that complications remain low.