Telephone - delivered quality of life after 365 male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) operations

OBJECTIVES: To assess patient satisfaction and quality of life and factors that may be related to these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2008 a retrospective chart review and telephone survey of all surgeries for male SUI was performed. Average age at times of operation was 69.4 ± 7.4 (median 69). As part of the survey 270 of 365 patients were available (response rate: 74%). The average follow up time (from operation to telephone survey) was 34.8 ± 22.8 months (median 32). RESULTS: Pad use per day improved significantly after operation from 6.23±5.3 to 1.61±2.92 pads/day (p=0.001). 74.7% (n=198) declared to be continent with one safety pad and 87.7% (n=236) confirmed the postoperative improvement of incontinence. 189 (70.5%) patients were “very satisfied” and “satisfied”. In 81% (n=218) the expectation in operation could be met, therefore 84.3% (n=226) would undergo it again and 90.3% (n=243) would recommend it to others. Lower age (rs=0.211), few postoperative pads per day (rs=0.58), high reduction of pads (rs=-0.35) and physical activity level (rs=0.2) correlate significantly with better satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-seven pint seven percent (87.7%) of our incontinence operations (n=236) lead to an improvement, which is independent from the number of prior incontinence operations and preoperative pad count. The postoperative quality of life remains constant over the observed follow up time. Certain subgroups of patients (younger age, high physical activity level, large reduction of pads) demonstrated superior satisfaction rates.