Inflatable artificial sphincter

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Anal sphincter anatomy

Inflatable artificial sphincter

(Page 2)

Women who have urine leakage usually try other treatment options before having an artificial sphincter placed.

Most of the time, your doctor will recommend drugs and bladder retraining before surgery.

Always tell your doctor or nurse what drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, herbs and supplements that you buy without a prescription.

During the days before the surgery:

• You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.

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On the day of your surgery:

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

Your doctor will test your urine to make sure you do not have a urinary infection before starting your surgery.

You may return from surgery with a catheter in place. This catheter will drain urine from your bladder for a little while. It will be removed before you leave the hospital.

You will not be using the artificial sphincter for a while after surgery. This means you will still have urine leakage. Your body tissues need this time to heal.

About 6 weeks after surgery, you will be taught how to use your pump to inflate your artificial sphincter.

You will need to carry a wallet card or wear medical identification that tells health care providers you have an artificial sphincter. The artificial sphincter must be turned off if you need to have a urinary catheter placed.

Women may need to change how they do some activities (such as bicycle riding), since the pump is placed in the labia.

Urinary leakage decreases for many people who have this procedure. But you may still have some leakage. Over time, some or all of the leakage may come back.

There may be a slow erosion (wearing away) of the urethral tissue under the cuff, and this tissue may become spongy. This may make the device less effective.

A new artificial sphincter can help control leakage.

Review Date: 06/17/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).