Artificial urinary sphincter
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is an implanted device to treat severe stress urinary incontinence and is mostly used in men’s diseases. The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is design to complement the natural urinary sphincter that restricts the flow of urine from the bladder.
how to work artificial urinary sphincter
The goal of AUS is to reduce urine leakage during activities such as sneezing, coughing, running, lifting weights, or doing some heavy work.
The instrument is insert either through a very small incision in the upper part of the scrotum, or through two incisions (one in the perineum, between the scrotum and the anus) and one in the groin/abdomen.
During this procedure, the patient is under general anesthesia. There is another device that consists of a cuff that goes around the urethra, a pump in the scrotum, and a balloon in the abdomen. The cuff remains closed most of the time to prevent leakage.
When the patient cycles the device using a pump in the scrotum, the cuff opens up and allows the patient to urinate. Within a minute or two, the phlegm fills up with fluid, thus again causing constipation.
It is a very safe surgery but it also has some complications:-
1. Increase and frequency of urination.
2. Kidney/bladder/back pain.
3. Pain in the kidneys during urination and for a short time after urination.
How long does an artificial urinary sphincter last
The AUS can wear out over time usually in 7 to 10 years and when it does, it will need to be replace. The AUS system has been inserte in approximately 250,000 patients. This urination occurs when the muscles in the bladder tighten to facilitate the flow of urine out of the body through the urethra.
Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation is a mainstay in the surgical treatment of male stress urinary incontinence. 1, 2 Notably, however, highly variable success rates, ranging from 3% to 100%, have been report after surgery. To use this device, compress (squeeze) the pump so that fluid moves from the urethral cuff into the balloon.
This process enables the sphincter to relax, which in turn enables you to urinate. In two minutes to five minutes, the cough fills up on its own.
Surgical removal is the standard treatment for artificial sphincter extrusion. However, it is possible to retain the prosthesis with good results in certain situations. It takes about 5-6 weeks to return to normal activity.
artificial urinary sphincter
It is important to avoid any kind of stress, running, heavy lifting, or strenuous activity during this time. Until the sphincter is activate, it is recommend to avoid sexual intercourse for 6 weeks before surgery.
In men with significant incontinence, the placement of an inflatable artificial urinary sphincter may be require. This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia and takes 2 to 3 hours.
