Inflatable artificial sphincter

Definition

Sphincters are muscles that allow your body to hold in urine. An inflatable artificial (human-made) sphincter is a medical device that keeps urine from leaking when your sphincter no longer works well. When you need to urinate, the cuff of the artificial sphincter can be relaxed so urine can flow out.

See also:

• Anterior vaginal wall repair
• Urinary incontinence - collagen implants
• Urinary incontinence - retropubic suspension
• Urinary incontinence - tension-free vaginal tape

Alternative Names

Artificial sphincter (AUS) - urinary

Description

You will have either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia before the procedure. With general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and will not feel pain. With spinal anesthesia, you will be awake but numb from the waist down, and you will not feel pain.

An artificial sphincter has 3 parts:

• The cuff fits around your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside). When it is inflated (full), the cuff closes off your urethra to stop urine flow or leakage.
• The balloon is placed under your belly muscles. It holds the same liquid as the cuff.
• The pump is placed in the scrotum (for men) or underneath the skin in the lower belly or leg (for women). The pump inflates the cuff.

An incision (cut) will be made in 1 of these areas so that the cuff can be put in place:

• Scrotum (men)
• Labia (women)
• Lower belly (men and women)

Once the artificial sphincter is in place, you will use the pump to deflate (empty) and inflate (fill up) the cuff. Squeezing the pump moves fluid from the cuff to the balloon. When the cuff is empty, your urethra opens so that you can urinate. The cuff will re-inflate on its own in 90 seconds.

Risks

This procedure is generally safe. Ask your doctor about these possible complications.

Risks for any surgery are:

• Incision infection or the incision opens up
• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Bleeding
• Other Infection

Risks for this surgery

• Damage to the urethra, bladder, or vagina
• It may be harder to empty your bladder, or you may not be able to empty your bladder and may need a catheter.
• Urine leakage may get worse.
• The device stops working. This requires removing it.