Burch Procedure for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an annoying and embarrassing problems that can be common in older people. While some people will lose just a little urine following a sneeze, the condition can be serious enough to cause you to lose the entire content of your bladder. While bladder retraining and medication can help, sometimes surgery is required for severe cases. One of the most common types of surgery for incontinence is called the Burch procedure.

Function

• Your doctor may suggest the Burch procedure if he finds that your bladder and urethra have shifted out of their normal places. Your doctor will want to put them back into their correct position by lifting the vaginal wall and suturing it to the ligaments around the pubic bone region. By realigning the bladder and the urethra, the bladder neck becomes secure again, making it difficult for urine to escape from sneezing or any type of physical activity.

Procedure

• The Burch procedure is minimally invasive. Your doctor will likely use an instrument called a laparoscope, which can enter through small incisions that are less than an inch wide, usually made around the belly button. One advantage of laparoscopic surgery is the recovery time is minimal since the small incisions need a short amount of time to heal. Following laparoscopic Burch procedure, most women can go home within in 24 hours, but will need a few weeks to fully recover.

Risks

• As with any surgical procedure, the Burch treatment has its share of risks. Beyond the typical risks of infection or bleeding, temporary issues with urination and emptying the bladder properly are common following surgery. In other situations, the procedure may make incontinence worse, you may get a urinary tract infection or you may experience pain during sexual intercourse following surgery. However, the Burch procedure is generally well-tolerated.