Urinary incontinence - vaginal sling procedures

Definition

Vaginal sling procedures help control stress incontinence, urine leakage that can happen when you laugh, cough, sneeze, lift things, or exercise. They help close your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside) and the bladder neck (the part of the bladder that connects to the urethra).

See also:

• Artificial sphincter surgery - urinary
• Urinary incontinence - collagen implants
• Urinary incontinence - retropubic suspension
• Urinary incontinence - tension-free vaginal tape

Alternative Names

Pubo-vaginal sling; Transobdurator sling

Description

Vaginal sling procedures use either tissue from your body, tissue from someone else's body, or synthetic (man-made) material.

The doctor will make 1 small incision (cut) in your vagina and another small incision just above your pubic hair or in the creases of your thighs. Most of the operation is done through the cut in your vagina.

The doctor creates a sling from the body tissue or synthetic material. The sling passes under your urethra bladder neck. The doctor attaches the sling to tissues in your lower belly that are very strong.

Risks

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 are:

• Damage to the urethra, bladder, or vagina
• It may become harder to empty your bladder. You may need to use a catheter.
• Breaking down of synthetic material used for the sling
• Urine leakage may get worse.
• Irritable bladder, where you may feel the need to urinate more often
• Fistula (or connection) between the vagina and the skin
• Changes in the vagina (prolapsed vagina)