title: Efficacy of the InVance™ male sling in treating stress urinary incontinence: a three-year experience from a single centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the InVance™ male sling in treating stress urinary incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed operative logs from a single surgeon of 43 patients treated over a 3-year period (Feb. 2004 to Nov. 2006) for stress incontinence by implantation of a male bulbourethral bone-anchoring sling (InVance™). The mean follow-up time was 24.2 months (range 4-38). Radical prostatectomy was the most common cause of incontinence in this group (33/ 43 cases; 76.7%). Efficacy was evaluated objectively in terms of the number of pads used per day, while subjective patient satisfaction was also recorded. We also investigated a possible correlation between preoperative parameters and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients (51.2%) were cured (totally dry: 30.2%; the remainder: 1 pad per day), while 8 (18.6%) patients improved but still required two pads per day. Overall, 30 of 43 patients (69.6%) were satisfied with the outcome of the operation. Postoperative infection was the most common complication (11.6%). The severity of preoperative incontinence correlated with the outcome of the operation, with mild incontinence giving better results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bone-anchored male sling is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for mild-to-moderate male urinary incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA. tassos_athan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasopoulos
authors.forename: Angelis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konstantinopoulos
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D013997:Time Factors; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult