Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Inflatable artificial sphincter - series: Procedure, part 2

 Procedure, part 2

Inflatable artificial sphincter - series
Illustrations:

  • Normal anatomy
  • Procedure, part 1
  • Procedure, part 2
  • Procedure, part 3
  • Aftercare

    • An artificial sphincter consists of three parts:

    To treat urinary incontinence, the cuff is placed around the bladder neck so that when it is inflated, the urethra will close tightly. The pressure regulating balloon will be placed under the tissues of the lower abdomen. The balloon is filled with a liquid (occasionally, an iodine-based solution will be used so that it will be visualized when x-ray procedures are performed). The control pump mechanism is placed in the labia for women, and in the scrotum for men. To use the sphincter, the person will compress (squeeze) the pump to divert fluid from the urethral cuff to the balloon. This action will allow the sphincter to relax so that the person can urinate. The cuff will then re-inflate on its own in 3 to 5 minutes .

    Update Date: 5/22/2008

    Updated by: Scott M. Gilbert, MD, Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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