INCONTINENCE SURGERY

Intravesical Botox

Intravesical Botox is a procedure to inject botulinum toxin (Botox) into the bladder wall. It is most commonly used to treat urinary incontinence due to overactive bladder.

Cystoscopy and injection of intravesical botulinum toxin is a procedure to inject botulinum toxin into the wall of your bladder.

Botulinum toxin works by temporarily reducing the ability of the bladder wall muscles to contract (squeeze).

Sub-urethral sling

A urethral sling is a procedure used to treat stress urinary incontinence. Urinary stress incontinence is when you leak urine with activity. It is the result of a weak pelvic floor (group of muscles at the base of the pelvis surrounding the urethra) or following some surgery. Placement of a piece of synthetic mesh (sling) to support the urethra is used to reduce or stop leakage with activity.

In men, slings are often used for the management of incontinence after prostate surgery.

Artificial Urinary Sphincter

An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is a device which is implanted in men to treat severe urinary incontinence. The AUS has three parts:

A cuff filled with fluid which wraps around and closes off the urethra (the pipe you pass urine through).
A pump in the scrotum which is used to deflate the cuff.
A fluid reservoir in the abdomen which regulates the flow of fluid in and out of the cuff.

The whole device is completely concealed with no external parts.

In the resting state, the urethral cuff is inflated with fluid, which closes off the urethra. Squeezing the pump in the scrotum causes the cuff to temporarily deflate, which allows you to pass urine. Over a few minutes the cuff gradually re-inflates to close off the urethra again. It is often used for the management of incontinence after prostate surgery.