Surgery for the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women

Surgical Options to Treat Incontinence

There are several safe and effective surgical procedures that may be recommended to treat urinary incontinence and improve a woman’s quality of life. The type of surgery recommended will depend on the type of incontinence being treated as well as the woman’s medical history and existing health conditions. Procedures may include:

• Sling Surgery. The gold standard for the surgical treatment of stress incontinence, sling surgery uses strips of synthetic material (mesh) or your body’s own tissues to create a sling. The sling is positioned under the urethra and bladder neck (the muscle that connects the bladder to the urethra) where it helps to support and keep the urethra closed during events that put pressure on the bladder, such as coughing or sneezing.
• Bladder Neck Suspension Surgery. This procedure uses stitches or sutures to attach vaginal tissue to ligaments near the pubic bone. Similar to sling surgery, this provides support to the urethra and bladder neck and may be helpful in managing stress incontinence.
• Prolapse surgery. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the muscles of the pelvic floor can no longer support the bladder, vagina, rectum, uterus and/or cervix, causing one or more of these organs to drop down from their normal position. Because this can contribute to urinary incontinence, surgery to restore these structures to their correct position may help to manage symptoms such as leaking or urge incontinence. Prolapse surgery is usually done in conjunction with a sling procedure when incontinence is an issue.

Advanced Robotic Surgery Techniques Improve Outcomes

The surgeons at UH Urological Institute have training and extensive experience in the use of advanced robotic surgery techniques, which may be used to perform the intricate procedures needed to treat female urinary incontinence.

Using the da Vinci robotic surgery system, robotic procedures allow for greater precision, smaller incisions, less pain and blood loss and a lower risk of complications. Other advantages include shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries and better outcomes.