Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia


 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Urinary incontinence - injectable implant

Intrinsic sphincter deficiency repair; ISD repair; Injectable bulking agents for stress urinary incontinence

 

Injectable implants are injections of material into the urethra to help control urine leakage ( urinary incontinence ) caused by a weak urinary sphincter. The sphincter is a muscle that allows your body to hold urine in the bladder. If your sphincter muscle stops working well you will have urine leakage.

Description

 

The material that is injected is permanent. Coaptite and Macroplastique are examples of two brands.

The doctor injects material through a needle into the wall of your urethra. This is the tube that carries urine from your bladder. The material bulks up the urethral tissue, causing it to close up. This stops urine from leaking out of your bladder.

You may receive one of the following types of anesthesia (pain relief) for this procedure:

  • Local anesthesia (only the area being worked on will be numb)
  • Spinal anesthesia (you will be numb from the waist down)
  • General anesthesia (you will be asleep and not able to feel pain)

After you are numb or asleep from anesthesia, the doctor puts a medical device called a cystoscope into your urethra. The cystoscope allows your doctor to see the area.

Then the doctor passes a needle through the cystoscope into your urethra. Material is injected into the wall of the urethra or bladder neck through this needle. The doctor can also inject material into the tissue next to the sphincter.

The implant procedure is usually done in the hospital. Or it is done in your doctor's clinic. The procedure takes about 20 to 40 minutes.

 

Why the Procedure Is Performed

 

Implants can help both men and women.

Men who have urine leakage after prostate surgery may choose to have implants.

Women who have urine leakage and want a simple procedure to control the problem may choose to have an implant procedure. These women may not want to have surgery that requires general anesthesia.

 

Risks

 

Risks of this procedure are:

  • Damage to the urethra or bladder
  • Urine leakage that gets worse
  • Pain where the injection was done
  • Allergic reaction to the material
  • Implant material that moves (migrates) to another area of the body

 

Before the Procedure

 

Tell your health care provider what medicines you are taking. This includes medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.

You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) warfarin (Coumadin), and any other medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot.

On the day of your procedure:

  • You may be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure. This will depend on what type of anesthesia you will have.
  • Take the medicines your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
  • You will be told when to arrive at the hospital or clinic. Be sure to arrive on time.

 

After the Procedure

 

Most people can go home soon after the procedure. It may take up to a month before the injection fully works.

It may become harder to empty your bladder. You may need to use a catheter for a few days. This and any other urinary problems usually go away.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

You may need 2 or 3 more injections to get good results. If the material moves away from the spot where it was injected, you may need more treatments in the future.

Implants can help most men who have had transurethral resection of the prostate ( TURP ). Implants help about half of men who have had their prostate gland removed to treat prostate cancer.

 

 

References

Appell RA, Dmochowski RR, Blaivas JM, Gormley EA, et al. Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Update Panel of the American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc, Whetter LE. Update of AUA Guideline on the surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence. J Urol . 2010;183:1906-1914.

Herschorn S. Injection therapy for urinary incontinence. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 74.

 

        A Closer Look

         

          Talking to your MD

           

            Self Care

             

              Tests for Urinary incontinence - injectable implant

               

                 

                Review Date: 1/21/2015

                Reviewed By: Scott Miller, MD, urologist in private practice in Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

                The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

                 
                 
                 

                 

                 

                A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



                Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.