Side Effects of Burch Bladder Surgery

If you experience bladder leakage when you laugh, sneeze or try to exercise, you could have stress incontinence. Stress incontinence can be treated surgically. One surgical option is Burch bladder surgery.

Burch Bladder Surgery

• Burch bladder surgery is a form of bladder neck suspension. During the procedure, your doctor will make an incision in your abdomen. She will place sutures in the tissue near your bladder neck, then fasten the sutures to a ligament near your pubic bone. The sutures support your bladder neck and prevent incontinence.

Surgical Side Effects

• Potential surgical side effects of Burch bladder surgery include an adverse reaction to anesthesia and infection at the incision site.

Other Side Effects

• Other side effects you could develop after Burch bladder surgery include an increased risk for urinary tract infections and trouble emptying your bladder.

Treatment

• The surgical team will monitor you carefully and intervene if you experience a bad reaction to the anesthesia. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat any infection that develops after your surgery. If you have trouble urinating, she can perform corrective surgery.

Considerations

• Your doctor can discuss non-surgical options with you before recommending Burch bladder surgery. Kegel exercises and bladder retraining therapy are non-invasive treatments you should try first.