title: The long-term outcome of artificial urinary sphincters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We reviewed the outcome of artificial urinary sphincters inserted more than 10 years ago.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the records of 100 patients and mailed a questionnaire to those without recent followup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 84 patients were continent, including 36 with the original artificial urinary sphincter in place who were dry at a median followup of 11 years and 27 in whom the device was successfully replaced due to mechanical failure who were previously continent for a median of 7 years. In 21 patients it was removed due to infection or erosion and reimplantation was successful 3 to 6 months later or they remained dry without another artificial urinary sphincter. Of the male patients with a bulbar and bladder neck sphincter 92% and 84%, respectively, were continent at 10 years as well as 73% of the females. Device survival was 66% at 10 years. Overall 37% of the prostheses were removed due to infection or erosion in the 10-year period with the highest risk in females (56%) and lowest in males with a bulbar sphincter (23%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The artificial urinary sphincter is effective long-term treatment for incontinence in male patients. In female patients the risk of erosion is high, although overall long-term continence is satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology and Nephrology, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Venn
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Greenwell
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mundy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology; D016741:Urinary Sphincter, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology