Reading Urology : Urethral Support Sling

A urethral support sling helps correct incontinence with a soft “mesh” that supports the urethra and is one of today’s most successful surgical procedures for stress urinary incontinence. The procedure is minimally invasive and involves placing the mesh material under the urethra to give it a point of support. The sling functions very much like a hammock on which your urethra rests to prevent accidental urine leakage.

The soft mesh is made of a narrow strip of loosely knitted strands of polypropylene and is light and porous so your body tissues can grow into it to provide optimal support.

Surgical mesh has been used to treat urinary incontinence since 1965, and used in more than 1 million patients worldwide. American Medical Systems (AMS) mesh alone has been placed in more than 250,000 patients.

The type of urethral support sling your doctor chooses will affect certain aspects of the procedure. Placement of a Monarc® or SPARC® sling is performed as an in-patient procedure under general anaesthesia, with normally a single night stay in hospital.

In general, placing a sling involves the following steps:

Small incisions may be made in the vagina, the abdomen or where the top of your thigh meets your pelvic area.
The mesh is inserted through an incision and placed under the urethra to form a cradle of support.
The mesh is self-fixating and anchors itself to tissue and muscle in the space surrounding the urethra.

Your incisions will be small and should heal quickly. For approximately four to six weeks after the operation you should avoid sexual intercourse, heavy lifting and exercise. Your doctor will provide you with additional information on how to care for yourself after surgery.

Source:
American Medical Systems www.americanmedicalsystems.com