Open Access

ARTICLE

Short term reoperation rates after artificial urinary sphincter placement in pediatric patients

Christopher J. Loftus¹, Jennifer Ahn², Amanda M. Nguyen³, Sarah Holt¹, Mark Cain², Margarett Shnorhavorian², Paul Merguerian², Judith C. Hagedorn¹

1 Department of Urology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
2 Department of Urology, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
3 University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Christopher Loftus, Dept. of Urology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356510, Seattle, WA 98195 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2022, 29(5), 11318-11322.

Abstract

Introduction: Artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) have demonstrated good functional outcomes in pediatric populations. We sought to examine the nationwide short term reoperation rates in pediatric patients after AUS placement.
Materials and methods: An observational cohort study was designed utilizing claims from the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database from 2007 to 2018. Patients under 18 years of age undergoing an AUS procedure were identified using CPT and ICD9/10 codes. Reoperations included any removal, replacement, or AUS placement codes which occurred after the initially identified placement code. Follow up time was the amount of time between AUS placement and the end of MarketScan enrollment.
Results: From 2007-2018, we identified 57 patients under the age of 18 who underwent AUS placement and after excluding 8 for concurrent AUS complication procedure codes and 4 for follow up < 60 days, the final cohort included 45 patients. The median age was 13 years (IQR 9-16 years) at the time of AUS placement, and the median follow up time after AUS placement was 787 days (IQR 442-1562 days), approximately 2.2 years. Total reoperation rate was 22%. Reoperations included 40% device removals (4/10) and 60% replacements (6/10). Neither gender (p = 0.70) nor age (p = 0.23) was associated with need for reoperation. Patients who had a concurrent bladder surgery had a higher rate of undergoing reoperation (50% vs. 12%, p = 0.007).
Conclusions: The rate of reoperation after AUS placement approached 1 in 4 in pediatric patients. These data may be instrumental for providers and parents in counseling and decision-making regarding risks of prosthetic implantation.

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