New Procedures for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the leakage of urine from a few drops to a more significant amount. The disorder affects women more than men and is a source of embarrassment. Newer procedures have been developed in recent years to provide relief for urinary incontinence.

Types

• There are two main types of urinary incontinence: stress and urge. Stress incontinence occurs when a person laughs, sneezes or coughs and a small amount of liquid escapes from the bladder. Urge incontinence occurs from an overactive bladder. Bladder spasms cause a need to visit the toilet frequently and may allow leakage of more than a few drops of liquid to escape.

Sling Surgeries

• Sling surgeries involve using your own body tissue or synthetic material to create a sling to support the bladder neck and urethra. The urethra is the tube in which urine is carried from the bladder to outside the body. A sling helps keep the urethra closed when sneezing or coughing.

Retropubic Procedure

• Retropubic procedures are new and involve a small incision under the urethra and two incisions above the pubic bone, just large enough for a needle to pass through. The sling is passed in through the incision and placed under the bladder neck. No stitches are required to hold the sling in place and skin glue is used to close the incisions.

Transobutrator Procedure

• The transobutrator procedure is newer than the retropubic with a slightly different approach. A small incision is made under the urethra, then two small incisions are made in each thigh to thread the sling into the body. This procedure lowers the concern of bladder or urethra injury. Stitches are not needed and skin glue closes the three incisions.

Risks

• Surgical procedures carry risks and complications. It's best to weigh the pros and cons when selecting treatment. Risks of sling procedures include infection, painful intercourse, urinary retention or difficulty emptying the bladder and pelvic organ collapse.

Considerations

• Urinary incontinence procedures involve a consultation with your doctor and is normally only considered after medication and therapy have failed to correct the disorder. There is a higher risk of complications with surgery than with more conservative methods, but severe cases of urinary incontinence may find a long-term solution in these newer procedures. Discuss all treatment options with your doctor.