Surgery for urinary incontinence

There are several different kinds of surgeries to correct stress urinary incontinence, which results when weakened pelvic floor muscles allow the bladder neck and urethra to drop. These surgeries seek to lift the urethra and/or bladder into their normal position. When they are returned to their proper position, sneezing, coughing, and laughing are less likely to result in the release of urine from the bladder.

Surgery is usually not done for the urge incontinence.

The decision to have surgery must always be based on an accurate diagnosis, consideration of other treatment possibilities, and realistic expectations for the surgery.

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery or TVT surgery is becoming more popular among women with stress incontinence. During this surgery, a meshlike tape is positioned under the urethra like a sling or a hammock to support it and return it to its normal position. The surgeon inserts the tape through small incisions in your vagina and pubic hair line. TVT surgery takes approximately 30 minutes and is usually done under local anesthesia. This surgery can also be done to correct incontinence that has recurred after having another type of incontinence surgery.

Retropubic suspension colposuspension procedures are the most common types of retropubic suspension. Retropubic surgeries provide lift to the sagging bladder neck and urethra by attaching their supporting tissues to the pubic bone or tough ligaments. These surgeries require hospitalization.

Urethral sling Dr. Strobel fashions a piece of muscle, ligament, or tendon tissue or synthetic material into a sling that lifts the urethra back into a normal position. Since this involves abdominal surgery, hospitalization is required.

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