A Valsalva leak-point pressure of >100 cmH2O is associated with greater success in AdVance™ sling placement for the treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if there is a Valsalva leak-point pressure (VLPP) threshold that predicts for retro-urethral transobturator sling (RTS) success in men with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (UI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The preoperative urodynamic parameters of all patients undergoing RTS (AdVance™) sling surgery over the last 5 years were analysed and compared with the postoperative outcomes. The sling was defined as having been successful if the patient no longer had to wear pads or merely used a pad to provide a sense of security.

RESULTS: In all, 46 men with a mean (range) age of 65 (45-83) years, underwent AdVance™ sling surgery. 10 men had undergone holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, one a transurethral resection of the prostate and 35 radical prostatectomy. 11 men had a VLPP of ≤100 cmH2O. Of these 11 men, three had no, or minimal, improvement in their leakage and all three required a secondary procedure (artificial urinary sphincter, AUS). In the 35 men with a VLPP of >100 cmH2O there were three failures. One of these was successfully salvaged with a repeat sling, another with an AUS and one with ProACT™ balloons. The hazard ratio (HR) for failure with a VLPP of ≤100 cmH20 compared with a VLPP of >100 cmH2O was 4 (95% confidence interval 0.68-23.7).

CONCLUSION: A VLPP of >100 cmH2O has a high degree of predictability for success for AdVance™ sling placement for men with post-prostatectomy UI.