A study investigating overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms associated with artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation revealed that OAB is prevalent both before and after the procedure. Among the 48 patients assessed using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, 60% had OAB symptoms prior to AUS implantation, which decreased to 35% to 40% within the first year post-implantation. Persistent OAB was noted in 44.8% of pre-existing cases, while 26.3% of patients without prior OAB developed new symptoms post-implantation. The study identified a maximum bladder capacity of less than 200 mL as the sole predictive factor for post-AUS implantation OAB. Although incontinence outcomes were similar between patients with and without OAB, quality of life (QOL) was significantly impaired in those with OAB.

The findings highlight the importance of counseling patients about the potential persistence or emergence of OAB symptoms following AUS implantation, particularly in those with reduced bladder capacity. The authors suggest that pre-implantation urodynamic studies and longitudinal follow-ups are critical to optimizing patient outcomes and addressing the impact of OAB on QOL in the perioperative period.

Reference: Taniguchi H, Takizawa N, Kinoshita H. Prevalence and risk factors for overactive bladder symptoms in patients with artificial urinary sphincter. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):20332. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68313-x.