Durability of Artificial Urinary Sphincter With Prior Radiation Therapy

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prior radiation therapy on artificial urinary sphincter. Methods: Group 1 was comprised of 63 men who underwent prior radical prostatectomy, and Group 2 was comprised of 31 men who received prior radiation therapy with or without prior radical prostatectomy. Social incontinence was defined as requiring to use > 1 pad per day and/or catheter-dependent at the time of last follow-up. Results: The median age at artificial urinary sphincter placement was 71 years (interquartile range, 55-74 years). The median and mean follow-up was 62 months (interquartile range, 37-106 months) and 75 months (range, 2-205 months), respectively. At the time of last follow-up, 67% (63 of 94) of the men in the entire cohort (73% [46 of 63] and 55% [17 of 31] in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively [. P = .078]) were socially continent. Sphincter revision, erosion, infection, and removal rates were 20%, 20%, 7%, and 10%, respectively, in Group 1, and 26%, 13%, 7%, and 23%, respectively, in Group 2. The differences in these rates were not statistically significant between the 2 groups. Conclusion: We found no significant difference in functionality (incontinence rates) and outcomes (rates of sphincter revision, erosion, infection, and removal) between the 2 groups. The message for patients is that prior radiation does not significantly alter the outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter.