SPARC Urethral Support Sling
“I first noticed a problem with stress urinary incontinence after the birth of my first child. I was in my twenties, and would leak a bit when I coughed or sneezed. It was a slowly escalating problem, and after my second child, the incontinence got so bad that it began to control my life. Walking, lifting, laughing—pretty much any movement at all would cause my bladder to leak so I had to wear a mini pad all the time and I didn’t participate in a lot of activities.”
Introduction
Does this woman’s story sound familiar? If you leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or perform strenuous physical activities, you may have stress urinary incontinence (SUI). SUI is the most common type of urinary incontinence among women. It is often embarrassing and can make simple, everyday activities difficult, if not impossible.
Fortunately, SUI is the most successfully treated type of urinary incontinence. There are many treatment options for SUI, and you may have already tried one or more of these options. A treatment option that gets to the source of and effectively corrects stress urinary incontinence is the urethral support sling.
This booklet will tell you more about the SPARC urethral support sling from American Medical Systems. You’ll learn about what causes SUI, what a urethral support sling is, and how it works. You’ll also find answers to common questions about how the sling is placed, and what to expect during and after the surgery. You can use this information as a basis for talking with your doctor.
How does urinary
control normally work?
Let’s start by reviewing how urinary control, also called
urinary continence, normally works.
Urine is produced in the kidneys and passes through the ureters to the bladder. As the bladder fills, it expands and the muscles around it stay relaxed. The sphincter keeps the opening at the bottom of the bladder tightly closed. The thick, spongy walls of the urethra help form a watertight seal when compressed by the sphincter.
The sphincter, bladder, bladder neck, and urethra must be in the proper position to work effectively. They are held in place by the pelvic muscles and other support structures.
When you urinate, the bladder contracts and the sphincter relaxes. This forces urine out of the bladder, through the urethra, and out of the body.
What causes stress
urinary incontinence?
SUI is caused by weakened pelvic muscles. Pregnancy, childbirth, and repetitive straining or damage to your muscles can lead to permanent weakening. Loss of estrogen at menopause may also play a role, since estrogen helps keep the pelvic muscles strong.
Two factors, working alone or in combination, can lead to stress urinary incontinence. Your doctor may refer to the causes of SUI by their technical names:
- Hypermobility of the bladder neck and urethra.
- Intrinsic sphincter deficiency.
Hypermobility of the bladder neck and urethra means that your bladder and urethra have dropped down from their normal positions. With this condition, the sudden, added pressure from a cough, sneeze, or lifting can be enough to cause leaking.
Intrinsic sphincter deficiency is defined as a sphincter that does not close the urethra completely. The sphincter is a muscle, and like other muscles, it can become weak or be damaged by such things as trauma, radiation, or surgery.
Loss of the female hormone estrogen at menopause can also play a part by causing thinning of the urethra’s inner walls, which can result in an ineffective seal.
What is a urethral
support sling?
A urethral support sling is a narrow strip of material placed in your body to create support for your bladder neck and urethra.
How does a urethral
support sling treat SUI?
The urethral support sling treats SUI by:
- Supporting the bladder neck and urethra in a normal position.
- Assisting the urethra to close more tightly.
The sling acts as a hammock that cradles the bladder neck and urethra, so your bladder is well supported and your urethra has a solid point to rest on and press against, allowing the sphincter to close more effectively.
Is the urethral support
sling an effective treatment for SUI?
Clinical studies show that the urethral support sling is a very effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence. Of all the surgical approaches available to treat SUI, the sling offers the best long-term success, and has been proven to be both safe and effective. Since 1997, more than 150,000 women have received urethral support slings and achieved excellent results.
How will the SPARC sling
be placed in my body?
SPARC sling placement is usually performed in an outpatient surgery that takes less than an hour.
SPARC sling placement requires two very small incisions in the lower abdomen above the pubic bone and one in the vagina. Your doctor will place the sling through the incision in your vagina. Using two needles passed through the incisions in your abdomen, your doctor will guide the sling into position behind your urethra. The two ends of the sling will be placed under the skin in your abdomen and will not be visible.
Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for the surgery and explain the procedure and the associated risks. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have.
What can I expect
after the sling is placed?
Your doctor may insert a catheter through your urethra to drain urine from our bladder. It is usually removed in a day or two. Your vagina may also be packed with sterile wound dressing. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for five to seven days to prevent infection.
Pain from the procedure is usually minimal. Your doctor may prescribe appropriate pain medications. Some pain after surgery is normal and to be expected. However, if the pain is severe or lasts longer than expected, it may be a sign of complications, so contact your doctor immediately.
You can return to limited physical activities one to two weeks after surgery. You should avoid sexual intercourse and heavy straining and lifting for approximately six weeks after surgery.
You may have specific limitations to activities defined by your doctor. Your doctor may also provide you with additional information about how to take care of yourself after surgery.
When will I see
results?
Most women see results as soon as the catheter is removed, usually within a day or two after the procedure.
Thousands of urethral sling procedures are safely and effectively performed each year, but as with any surgical procedure, there are risks and complications that can occur. You should talk to your doctor to be sure you understand the SPARC procedure. Your doctor can provide you with more information about the procedure, results, and potential complications of which you should be aware.
Regain control and
restore your lifestyle.
Thousands of women have chosen the urethral support sling
and are enjoying the freedom and control that it provides. If you have questions about the SPARC sling,
please talk to your doctor. There’s no
reason to live with incontinence when a urethral support sling can help you
regain control, and restore the active lifestyle you enjoy with your family and
friends.
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SPARC Patient Education Brochure 21600047 |