Bladder Control Surgery
Loss of bladder control can be embarrassing, to say the least. However many individuals are faced with this problem, and its cause can be due to a prolapsed bladder, cystocele or urinary incontinence. Many options of treatment are available to alleviate its symptoms but sometimes non-invasive techniques do not work and in such instances, some physicians advocate bladder control surgery.
Vaginal bladder control surgery is commonly referred to as the "sling procedure" and it is where a tension-free vaginal tape or tissue from the patient's abdominal fascia is used to control urinary incontinence. There are two main techniques used under this method. Namely, the transvaginal method where surgery is carried out through the vagina itself and the percutaneous method, for which a couple of small abdominal incisions are required.
Burch Colposuspension is another form of bladder control surgery recommended for stress incontinence, where the surgeon separates the urethra and the neck of the bladder from the pubic bone, which is then elevated and kept in place by sutures that pass through the vagina and pubic ligaments.
The Marshall Marchetti Krantz (MMK) approach and a variety of needle suspension methods (chief amongst which are the Stamey technique, the Raz procedure and the Gittes technique) are amongst the other bladder control surgery options that merit consideration.
Re-positioning of the bladder is another technique used in bladder control surgery and is most often carried out in the event of a prolapsed bladder. Here, surgeons attempt to restore support to the bladder by inserting stitches to the walls of the vagina.
In the event that the problem arises due to a cystocele (which is colloquially referred to as a "bladder bulge"), anterior vaginal repair or paravaginal repair are the preferred methods of bladder control surgery that most physicians recommend. To perform the former procedure, an incision is made to the vagina while in the latter technique an incision needs to be made in the vagina or abdomen.
When considering bladder control surgery, it is imperative that the patient consults a qualified physician and first analyses the cause and treatment options open to them prior to under-going surgery. If bladder control surgery is deemed to be necessary, then the pros and cons of each procedure should be listed out, doubts clarified, and post-operative care discusses. This would help minimize any complications that may later occur. Then if the benefits outweigh the risks, the patient can go ahead with bladder control surgery.