Definition of Urinary incontinence - retropubic suspension:

Retropubic suspension is surgery to help control urine leakage that can happen when you laugh, cough, sneeze, lift things, or exercise ( stress incontinence). The surgery helps 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 - tension-free vaginal tape
• Urinary incontinence - vaginal sling procedures

Description:

You will have either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia before the retropubic suspension procedure. With general anesthesia, you will be asleep and feel no pain. With spinal anesthesia, you will be awake but numb from the waist down. You will not feel pain.

There are two ways to do retropubic suspension: open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Either way, surgery may take up to 2 hours.

During open surgery:

• A surgical cut is made on the lower part of your belly.
• Through this cut the bladder is located. The doctor will sew the bladder neck, part of the wall of the vagina, and the urethra to the bones and ligaments in your pelvis.
• This lifts the bladder and urethra so they can close better.

During laparoscopic surgery, the doctor will make a smaller cut in your belly. A a tube-shaped medical device that allows the doctor to see your organs (laparoscope) is put into your belly through this cut. The doctor will sew the bladder neck, part of the wall of the vagina, and the urethra to the bones and ligaments in the pelvis.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

This procedure is done to treat stress incontinence.

Most of the time, your doctor will have you try bladder retraining or Kegel exercises before talking about surgery with you.