What Is Bladder Surgery?

Doctors may use bladder surgery to treat patients with early stage bladder cancer or more advanced forms of the disease. Bladder surgery may be used to treat urinary incontinence when less invasive forms of treatment have not produced adequate results.

Early Stage Cancer

• Patients with small bladder tumors that have not invaded the bladder wall may undergo surgery to remove the tumor and a small portion of bladder tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Invasive Cancer

• Doctors may need to remove a patient’s entire bladder in cases where a tumor has invaded deep layers of the wall of the bladder. Another procedure is performed to create a new way for the patient to expel urine from the body.

Artificial Urinary Sphincter

• Men with an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer may have a weakened urinary sphincter that can be assisted with an artificial device that keeps the urinary sphincter closed until the patient presses a valve to release urine from the bladder, according to the Mayo Clinic. This artificial device is surgically implanted around the bladder neck.

Sling Procedure

• Doctors may use portions of the patient’s own tissue to create a sling that holds the urethra closed when a patient coughs or sneezes.

Bladder Neck Suspension

• A surgeon may surgically suspend the bladder neck to provide support for the urethra and bladder neck.