There’s a Solution for Incontinence After Prostate Surgery — an Artificial Sphincter

It can be frustrating when you’re trying to correct one problem, only to be left with a different one, which can often be the case with prostate surgery. Following a prostatectomy, many men develop issues with post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI), and between 10% and 15% of men have some incontinence six months after the procedure.

While many of these men gradually improve and regain control over their bladders within a year or two, some have ongoing issues with PPI, which can have a major quality-of-life impact.

For just this scenario, Dr. Robert J. Cornell and the team here at our state-of-the-art urology practice offer the AMS 800™ Urinary Control System — an artificial urinary sphincter that boasts a 90% satisfaction rating among users.

Here’s a look at how this innovative system can help you regain control over your continence.

Why the incontinence after a prostatectomy?

If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer or you have severe benign prostate dysplasia, we often find that removing the prostate gland is the best course of action. This gland is located just underneath your bladder, where it encircles your urethra.

With Dr. Cornell’s experienced and skilled hands, he performs the surgery, taking great care to spare the nerves in your bladder that control urination.

Still, some disturbance during a prostatectomy is inevitable, and urinary incontinence is the leading side effect. In up to 93% of cases, PPI is due to sphincter deficiency, which means the muscular connection point between your bladder and your urethra is weak and can’t hold your urine well.

As we mentioned, in most cases, the sphincter can regain its strength and nerves can regrow after the prostate surgery, which is why most men gradually see their incontinence resolve within a year or two after the prostate procedure. For those who don’t, keep reading to find out about our artificial sphincter.

An artificial sphincter to the rescue

If you’re struggling with PPI and it’s showing no signs of improving, we can discuss whether you’re a good candidate for the AMS 800 Urinary Control System. This “system” is an artificial sphincter that you can operate to control your urinary function.

The manufacturer — Boston Scientific — describes the AMS 800 as a, “completely concealed, implantable, fluid-filled, solid silicone elastomer device,” that enables men to operate the sphincter to release urine.

Dr. Cornell implants the AMS 800 artificial sphincter system during an outpatient procedure, which means you’re free to go home on the same day. Once he places the system, you control your urinary output by opening and closing your urethra using a release pump in your scrotum.

When you need to pee, you squeeze the pump a couple times and it opens your urethra. Once you empty your bladder, the system pressurizes again and closes the opening of your urethra. 

With the artificial sphincter, control of where and when you urinate is, literally, at your fingertips.

If you’re finding urination challenging after your prostatectomy and you’d like to explore whether the AMS 800 Urinary Control System is a good solution, we invite you to contact our office in Houston, Texas, to schedule a consultation.