Study of cognitive and manual dexterity disorders after AUS placement raises questions for further research

In this video, Jacqueline Zillioux, MD, shares unanswered questions that arose from the Journal of Urology study “Prevalence of Cognitive and Manual Dexterity Disorders Among Men Following Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement.” Zillioux is an assistant professor of urology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Transcription:

What sorts of questions arise from this study?

This study is a first look at how common are these diagnoses in this patient population? But what it can't answer is, what is the appropriate baseline screening test that we do, and how should we follow these patients after implant? We know now that these diagnoses are likely common. And we know that, just based on common sense, we probably should be looking for these issues and patients on follow-up and ensure longitudinal follow-up. We don't know what interval makes sense. The median time to having one of these diagnoses show up in the patient's chart based off of this study was about 4 to 5 years, depending on which diagnosis you're looking at. That's well within the range of the patient normally potentially needing some sort of revision or replacement. And so, at the very least, they should be checked at the time of considering whether or not to do a device replacement or revision. What cognitive thresholds do you really need based off of objective screening tools? How closely should we follow these patients? Is it annually? Is it every other year? Is it just like the bare minimum, before you do anything else to them? Those are some outstanding questions.

This transcription was edited for clarity.