The International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for male lower urinary tract surgery

Abstract

Introduction: In the development of terminology of the lower urinary tract (LUT), due to its increasing complexity, the terminology for male LUT surgery needs to be updated using a male-specific approach and via a clinically-based consensus report. Methods: This report combines the input of members of the Standardization Committee of the International Continence Society in a Working Group with recognized experts in the field, assisted by many external referees. Appropriate core clinical categories and a subclassification were developed to give a numeric coding to each definition. An extensive process of 14 rounds of internal and external review was developed to exhaustively examine each definition, with decision-making by collective opinion (consensus). Results: A Terminology Report for male LUT and pelvic floor surgery, encompassing 149 separate definitions/descriptors, has been developed. It is clinically-based with the most common diagnoses defined. Clarity and user-friendliness have been key aims to make it interpretable by practitioners and trainees in male LUT surgery. Figures have not been included to avoid any preference or bias towards a specific procedure. Conclusions: A consensus-based Terminology Report for male LUT surgery has been produced aimed at being a significant aid to clinical practice and a stimulus for research.