Urinary incontinence - retropubic suspension
Definition
Retropubic suspension is surgery to help control stress incontinence, urine leakage that can happen when you laugh, cough, sneeze, lift things, or exercise. 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
Alternative Names
Open retropubic colposuspension; Laparoscopic retropubic colposuspension; Needle suspension; Burch colposuspension
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 2 ways to do retropubic suspension, open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Either way, surgery may take up to 2 hours.
During open surgery:
- An incision (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 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 incision in your belly. A laparoscope (a tube-shaped medical device that allows the doctor to see your organs) is put into your belly through this cut. The doctor will sew the bladder neck, part of the wall of the vagina, and urethra to the bones and ligaments in the pelvis.
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 be harder to empty your bladder. Or you may not be able to empty your bladder and need a catheter (tube that drains urine from your bladder).
- 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
Reviewed By: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
