The Mode of Action of Adjustable Transobturator Male System (ATOMS): Intraoperative Urethral Pressure Measurements

Abstract

(1) Background: The Adjustable Transobturator Male System (ATOMS) device is increasingly used to treat post-prostatectomy incontinence as it enhances residual urinary sphincteric function and allows continence recovery or improvement by dorsal compression of the bulbar urethra through a fixed transobturator mesh passage. The mode of action and the profile of the patients with best results are not totally understood. (2) Methods: Intraoperative urethral pressure measurements at different filling levels of the ATOMS device show increased urethral resistance and enhanced residual sphincteric activity. We evaluated whether the pattern of urethral pressure change secondary to serial progressive intraoperative filling of the cushion can predict postoperative results after ATOMS placement. (3) Results: The regression analysis showed a significant direct relationship between cushion volume and intraurethral pressure (p = 0.000). The median intraurethral pressure at atmospheric pressure was 51 ± 22.7 cm H2O, and at atmospheric pressure plus 4 mL was 80 ± 23.1 cm H2O). Cluster analyses defined a group of patients (n = 6) formed by patients with a distensible urethra and 100% continence after adjustment in contrast to another group (n = 3) with rigid urethras and 33% continence after adjustment. (4) Conclusions: As a part of its continence mechanism, the ATOMS device leads to continence by increasing intraurethral pressure owing to the stretching effect on the urethral wall caused by cushion filling that increases urethral resistance.

1. Introduction

Male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a distressful complication after prostatic surgery for either prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Adjustable Transobturator Male System (ATOMS) is increasingly used for the surgical treatment of moderate to severe male SUI. This system is based on the ventral compression of the bulbar urethra exerted by a silicone cushion that can be filled both intraoperatively and postoperatively [1]. Compared to the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), the ATOMS does not need patient manipulation. Other advantages of this system are its simplicity, the much lower risk of urethral atrophy or erosion, and the capability of postoperative adjustment [1,2,3]. There is accumulated evidence regarding both efficacy and safety of this incontinence device, without contraindication for the elderly and/or radiated population [4]. Currently, not only AUS, but also male slings and adjustable systems like ATOMS, are well-accepted therapies for male SUI [5].

The ATOMS device is also advantageous over other adjustable systems, both for a diminished rate of complications compared to the male REEMEX system [6] and also for increased effectiveness and durability compared to ProACT [7]. However, its mode of action is not well understood and analyses using urodynamic studies are scarce [8]. Our hypothesis is that the compression produced by the cushion filling produces a stretching effect on the bulbar urethra that increases urethral resistance and enhances the residual sphincteric activity, and also that the different responses to serial filling of the cushion intraoperatively after ATOMS placement could help to define the patients with the best postoperative results. Therefore, the objective of our study was to analyze the relationship between cushion volume and intraurethral pressure at the place of ATOMS contact. Our secondary objective was to evaluate whether a “stress test” performed intraoperatively could help us delineate the profile of a patient that would have the best chance of objective continence results after ATOMS implantation and postoperative adjustment.

2. Materials and Methods

We carried out a cross sectional study in nine consecutive male patients submitted to ATOMS placement for moderate and severe SUI. There were no exclusion criteria regarding leakage severity, concomitant radiotherapy, history of urethral stricture, or previous SUI surgery. Surgical technique and perioperative care followed the original description [1,3]. Sample size was calculated based on data published by Ito et al. [9]. Assuming that the standard deviation of maximum urethral pressure in adult men is 7.75 cm H2O with a precision of ±4 cm H2O and a confidence interval of 95%, the minimum sample size should be 7 patients. The study was IRB approved and all patients signed informed consent for inclusion in the study.

Perioperative intraurethral pressure measurement was carried out before and after ATOMS placement but before closing the incision, so that we could be sure the measurement was performed at the level at which the ATOMS device compresses the urethra (Figure 1). We measured this pressure by a T-DOC^® air charged catheter inside the urethra at the point of contact between the ATOMS cushion and the urethra (Laborie, Mississaugua, ON, Canada), connected to Solar^® urodynamic equipment (MMS, Enschede, the Netherlands). The system was calibrated before each measurement. The initial pressure was measured with an empty cushion, followed by 5 mL serial fillings until 30 mL was reached (Figure 2).

Afterwards, the cushion was completely emptied, and filled again up to atmospheric pressure (slightly different in every case), determined by the anatomic position and the degree of pressing when the mesh arms were tied to the cushion. Finally, we measured the pressure by filling to atmospheric pressure plus an additional 4 mL. With each measurement, we observed that filling causes a peak of pressure followed by accommodation. All pressure data for each patient were tabulated. We blinded the clinical information of each patient regarding baseline characteristics including stress incontinence severity (daily pad test), former radiotherapy, and patient age during the registration of intraoperative measurements.

We carried out a regression analysis of filling cushion values on intraurethral pressures, and calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient between preoperative pad test, cushion volume, and intraurethral pressure. We also performed a multivariate cluster analysis to search for different filling and pressure patterns. Several months after surgery, once postoperative ATOMS adjustment was completed, we registered whether continence was achieved and the results of a postoperative pad test. Continence after adjustment, variables regarding incontinence severity baseline (pad count, pad test, ICIQ-SF with Q1-Q3 questions), and other clinical and preoperative urodynamic variables were evaluated. Their distribution according to the clusters identified was evaluated using Wilcoxon and chi² tests.

3. Results

Table 1. Intraurethral pressure in cm H2O at different filling volumes of ATOMS for each patient. Medians in last row in bold.

Patient ID	Baseline w/o ATOMS	Baseline with ATOMS	5 mL	10 mL	15 mL	20 mL	25 mL	30 mL	Atmospheric	Plus 4 mL
257498	52	25	42	64	95	155	230	410	45	110
281568	45	47	57	76	90	103	110	120	67	67
490397	51	22	60	130	200	360	400	425	35	80
238416	38	47	47	70	120	150	180	190	30	55
699663	63	43	43	85	140	170	200	230	50	83
198535	55	60	65	72	77	85	90	130	95	100
208925	84	50	55	62	107	165	350	370	53	80
246430	49	50	88	160	230	250	250	220	59	100
425221	37	29	40	90	150	165	166	130	26	45
Median	51	47	55	76	120	165	200	220	50	80

shows each value of intraurethral pressure registered for every patient following the dynamic changes for each ATOMS cushion volume tested. We found that each patient followed a different pattern of pressure change and also that a great variation of pressure is exerted when the ATOMS filling exceeds 10 mL. Characteristically, 10 mL filling always increased urethral pressure beyond 60 cm H2O. Atmospheric pressure filling of the system led to intraurethral pressures in a range of 26–95 cm H2O (median 51 ± 22.7 cm H2O) and an additional 4 mL filling brought pressures to 45–110 cm H2O (median 80 ± 23.1 cm H2O). This is in agreement with the effects expected for ATOMS with a percentage of patients achieving continence after surgery and an additional population reaching continence after postoperative adjustment (i.e., adding some extra volume).

The regression analyses showed significant direct relationships between cushion volumes and intraurethral pressure (beta coefficient = 0.072 cm H2O/mL, p = 0.000). Intraurethral pressures increased mildly to moderately with filling under 15 mL (73 ± 22.7 cm H2O) but above 20 mL, there was a wide variability in the pressure increment (233 ± 108.9 cm H2O) (Figure 3).

There is a correlation between intraurethral pressure baseline with ATOMS placed unfilled and filled at atmospheric pressure (p = 0.038), and also between intraurethral pressure before ATOMS placement and with ATOMS placed and filled at atmospheric pressure plus 4 mL (p = 0.047). Additionally, a correlation was found between ATOMS filling to a medium-range volume (10 mL and 15 mL, p = 0.000; 15 mL and 20 mL, p = 0.004; 10 mL and 20 mL, p = 0.019) and also to a high-range volume (20 mL and 25 mL, p = 0.007; 25 mL and 30 mL, p = 0.003). These figures evidence that, although the pressure variation appears very variable, it can be determined by two ranges of volumes (i.e., 10–20 and 20–25 mL or beyond).

Cluster analysis distributed the nine patients in two different patterns (cluster 1 and 2). Cluster 1 is formed by six patients with distensible urethras, while cluster 2 is formed by three patients with more rigid urethras (Figure 4). Patients in cluster 2 reach higher pressure than the rest at 25–30 mL filling volume.

The clinical characteristics that define each cluster, based on clinical and urodynamic characteristics, are evaluated in

Table 2. Cluster characterization according to features expressed; significant values in bold.

Features	Cluster 1 (n = 6)	Cluster 2 (n = 3)	p Value
Daily pad test (mL); median (IQR)	430 (200)	850 (300)	0.019
Daily pad count (PPD); median (IQR)	3.5 (1)	6 (1)	0.024
ICIQ-SF Total; median (IQR)	16 (3)	19 (4)	0.152
ICIQ-SF Question 1; median (IQR)	4 (0)	5 (1)	0.0325
ICIQ-SF Question 2; median (IQR)	4 (0)	6 (2)	0.157
ICIQ-SF Question 3; median (IQR)	8 (2)	8 (1)	0.79
Patient age (years); median (IQR)	71.5 (1)	72 (9)	0.89
Radiotherapy (%)	16.7	66.7	0.134
History of urethral stricture (%)	0	33.3	0.33
Residual volume (mL); median (IQR)	0 (0)	0 (50)	0.48
Cystometric capacity (mL); median (IQR)	226.5 (185)	97 (82)	0.12
Leak point pressure (cm H2O); median (IQR)	161.5 (44)	150 (117)	0.61
Qmax (mL/s); median (IQR)	12.5 (14)	2 (11)	0.15
Pdet max (cm H2O); median (IQR)	23.5 (30)	58.5 (57)	0.129
BOOI; median (IQR)	−5 (−10)	4 (72)	0.24

. All six patients in cluster 1 (100%) achieved continence, but only one patient in cluster 2 (33%) did so. Despite the small numbers, preoperative severity of incontinence was higher in patients in cluster 2, as revealed by a pad test, pad count, and also ICIQ-SF Question 1 (each p < 0.05).

Additionally, ultrasound images performed after ATOMS adjustment at different times for serial postoperative filling in a case needing progressive filling up to 25 mL show that ATOMS filling elongates the transversal urethral diameter whereas it reduces the antero-posterior diameter (Figure 5).

4. Discussion

From a physiological point of view, intraurethral resting pressure must be adequate to maintain continence. Urethral pressure measurements have indicated that normal urethral resting pressure is 70 ± 7.75 cm H2O [9]. According to Laplace’s law, intraurethral pressure is proportional to the tension of its wall. This tension increases in direct proportion to the degree to which the wall is stretched [10]. This may be the mechanism by which ATOMS increases intraurethral pressure.

Tissue biomechanics inform us that the relationship between tension and stretch depends on the histologic composition of tissues. Elastin fibers and muscle tissues allow great deformations without a proportional boost of tension. These fibers have a high compliance. Other fibers like collagen allow initial deformation without a high tension. However, once they reach their working length, they strongly resist further stretching by sharply increasing their tension. Our cluster analysis confirms the existence of two patterns. We assume that the pattern in cluster 1 fits with normal urethras where elastin and muscle fibers are predominant and whose maximum intraoperative intraurethral pressure was 250 cm H2O; while the pattern in cluster 2 is formed by rigid urethras where collagen is predominant and maximum intraurethral pressure reached values of 425 cm H2O. In these urethras, overfilling does not guarantee continence status. This explains the finding previously reported that mean cushion filling in patients with ATOMS is higher in those who do not achieve continence than in continent patients [11]. The patients in cluster 2 are those with higher baseline SUI severity and also those with worst postoperative results (Table 2). In fact, clinical evidence with ATOMS implantation also confirmed that patients with higher SUI severity at baseline and patients who received prior radiation therapy are those with a lower possibility to achieve continence [2,4,11].

However, direct compression is most probably not the only factor through which ATOMS exerts its mode of action. In fact, an elastic urethra and corpus spongiosum allows the distribution of pressure to the membranous urethra, an explanation that is perfectly in line with our results.

Meta-analysis of outcomes reported for ATOMS reveals that 67% of the patients achieve continence after implantation and adjustment, and also that 90% improve their continence status [4]. Despite complications that may occur and possible pain after the implantation, which can hamper results in terms of patient satisfaction, overall satisfaction with the device remains very high [3,12,13]. Long-term outcomes appear reassuring as well [14], though a proportion of patients undergo device explantation for several reasons that include ineffectiveness, port erosion, and device infection [15,16].

The main cornerstone of male SUI therapy using prosthetic surgery is the identification of the best candidate for each device. In this sense, the study we present gives an idea of the mode of action of ATOMS as a sphincteric-reinforcing mechanism that produces ventral compression of the bulbar urethra to stretch its walls, thereby increasing intraurethral pressure. We have no clinical evidence that the effect exerted by ATOMS causes bladder outlet obstruction, at least from a clinical point of view. More studies assessing urodynamics after ATOMS placement are needed. Meanwhile, dynamic urethral pressure profiling can help distinguish the population of patients more likely to achieve the best postoperative results.

One of the main limitations of the study is the small number of cases evaluated. Another limitation is that repeat urethral pressure measurements were not performed after surgery, once postoperative adjustment was complete, to evaluate the pressure transmitted to the bulbar urethra once the fibrous capsule was formed around the ATOMS cushion. Additionally, future investigations should be conducted in larger series to better evaluate urodynamic changes caused by ATOMS in both the voiding and the filling phase in these patients.

5. Conclusions

We confirm the hypothesis that ATOMS leads to continence by increasing intraurethral pressure owing to the stretching effect on the urethral wall caused by ATOMS cushion filling, thus increasing urethral resistance. We have demonstrated that the response to serial filling performed intraoperatively depends on urethral rigidity, reflects baseline SUI severity, and predicts postoperative results.

6. Patents

The nine patients in this report signed an informed consent to participate in the study. All nine suffered incontinence after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Three also received adjuvant radiotherapy. They were consecutive patients undergoing ATOMS placement in a university hospital between October 2019 and January 2020. The surgical team has intervened in more than 150 cases with ATOMS. Cystoscopy and urodynamic study were performed before ATOMS surgery. In one case, bladder outlet obstruction was confirmed despite previous endoscopic treatment of urethral stricture, but allowed urethral catheterization. Incontinence severity was evaluated by daily pad count, daily pad test (based on 3 consecutive days), and also a self-performed ICIQ-SF questionnaire, with three individual questions (Q1 dealing with urine leakage frequency from 0 to 5, Q2 dealing with incontinence severity from 0 to 6, and Q3 dealing with quality of life and patient discomfort).

The urethral pressure study was performed intraoperatively as described in the Materials and Methods section. Perioperative and postoperative care followed standards. ATOMS adjustment was performed by postoperative filling of the system through a silicone-covered scrotal port in five cases, with multiple filling needed in three of them. Seven achieved continence, defined by use of no pads or one security pad per day. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred.

Table 3. Clinical data of patients included in the study, including baseline, operative, and postoperative information.

Patient ID	Baseline Pad Count (Pads/Day)	Baseline Pad Test (mL)	ICIQ-SF (Q1 + Q2 + Q3)	Radiation	Stricture	Operative Time (min)	Filling Volume at Adjustment (mL)	Number of Fillings	Pad Count after Adjustment (Pads/Day)	Pad Test after Adjustment (mL)
257498	6	850	5 + 6 + 8	Yes	No	46	21	4	4	680
281568	4	460	4 + 4 + 7	Yes	No	40	18	2	2	280
490397	6	980	5 + 6 + 9	Yes	Yes	55	19	3	4	515
238416	4	600	4 + 4 + 10	No	No	39	14	1	0	0
699663	3	400	4 + 4 + 9	No	No	60	12	0	0	0
198535	3	260	4 + 4 + 5	No	No	48	12	0	0	0
208925	5	680	4 + 4 + 8	No	No	5o	14	1	0	15
246430	5	650	4 + 6 + 9	No	No	54	12	0	0	0
425221	3	400	4 + 4 + 7	No	No	42	12	0	0	0

shows the most relevant clinical information for each patient included in the study regarding baseline SUI severity and other features like radiation and urethral stricture, operative data, and continence outcomes.

All patients were followed for a year. Three patients suffered late complications. One patient had a device-related infection and it was explanted; another died of pneumonia related to COVID-19; and the third patient was diagnosed with superficial bladder cancer.