Inflatable Artificial Sphincter

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Indications

An artificial urinary sphincter is used to treat stress incontinence in men that is caused by urethral dysfunction such as after prostate surgery. Additionally this procedure may be performed in men and women with sphincter dysfunction related to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. Most experts advise their patients to try medication and bladder retraining therapy first before resorting to this treatment. Alternatives to this procedure are the pubovaginal sling in women or the periurethral injection of collagen in men and women.

An artificial rectal sphincter is used to treat fecal (bowel) incontinence caused by neurological or muscular dysfunction of the sphincter. Once again, it is advised that all potential candidates try bowel and sphincter retraining before resorting to this procedure.

People who are candidates for an artificial sphincter (either the urinary or rectal type), must have the physical ability to toilet and manipulate the sphincter. Additionally, this procedure should not be performed in people who have a progressive urological disease, urinary tract infection, or non symptomatic presence of bacteria in the urine. The person must be treated with antibiotics and must be free of any urinary bacteria before the procedure may be performed.

Notify your surgeon if you have an allergy to iodine since the balloon is sometimes filled with an iodine solution.