1. ¹Department of Urology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
2. ²Rehabilitation Institute, Gervasutta Hospital, Udine, Italy
3. ³Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

Correspondence: S Siracusano, Department of Urology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume, 44734149 Trieste, Italy

Abstract

Study design: Case report of an unusual use of AMS 800 (American Medical Systems, Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota) artificial urinary sphincter cuff in a female patient affected by neurogenic urinary incontinence.

Objective: To describe this rare surgical solution.

Setting: Department of Urology in Italy.

Methods: A 43-year-old woman affected by flaccid paraplegia, acontractile bladder and incompetent bladder neck, underwent an implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800. After 7 years, a mechanical failure of the device occurred and pubovaginal sling (PVS) utilizing the cuff of the sphincter was employed due to the poor quality of rectus fascia and the development of previous allergy for some heterologous materials.

Results: At 17 months follow-up, the patient is contnent and able to empty the bladder by clean intermittent self-catheterization (CIC).

Conclusion: The risk of developing an allergy reaction due to the employment of heterologous materials and the impossibility to use the rectus fascia obliged us to adopt the pre-existent cuff of the artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800.