title: Mid-term complications after placement of the male adjustable suburethral sling: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent years various sling systems have been proposed as a successful treatment option for male stress urinary incontinence. Reports about complication rates and failures are still scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically reevaluated 29 male patients who received an Argus® suburethral sling for stress urinary incontinence between October 2006 and July 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 24 patients (83%) experienced a total of 37 complications at a median followup of 35 months (range 29 to 45), including 10 (35%) in acute urinary retention. The sling was removed in 10 patients (35%) due to urethral erosion (3), infection (2), system dislocation (2), urinary retention (2) and persistent pain (1). Eight men (27%) complained of significant perineal pain, necessitating continuous oral analgesics. In 1 patient ureteral reimplantation was done due to ureteral erosion from a dislocated sling. At followup only 5 men (17%) remained dry while 21 (72%) were dissatisfied with the clinical outcome. No available clinical variables were statistically significantly associated with any grade or high grade complications even on univariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study cohort the Argus suburethral sling was associated with serious mechanical and infectious complications, and sparse functional results with negative impact on patient quality of life. Based on the results of this study significant changes are warranted in the sling system and in the implantation technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. orietta.dalpiaz@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Orietta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dalpiaz
authors.forename: Hans Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orth
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Griese
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aboulsorour
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*