Treating the Problem of Urinary Incontinence With Robotic Surgery
Operations are performed at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital with the da Vinci robotic surgical system.
Request an AppointmentUrinary incontinence is one of the conditions from which millions of people suffer today. It is not known exactly how many women complain of this condition, because while some are embarrassed by it, others think it is normal with age. However, urinary incontinence is a condition that reduces quality of life and affects social life psychologically. Many people do not want to move too far away from a toilet.
Normally, the control of storing and passing urine is provided by our brain and by the nerves and muscles in the bladder. The bladder stores a certain amount of urine. When it is full to capacity, the sensation of needing to urinate arises and the bladder must be emptied. During this process, despite the increasing pressure inside the bladder, urinary leakage is prevented by the muscles we call the sphincter between the bladder and the urethra. If these sphincter muscles cannot perform their task fully, urinary incontinence occurs.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
There are four different types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence, overactive bladder, mixed and overflow. Urinary leakage that occurs as a result of weakening of the pelvic muscles is called stress incontinence. This type is seen more frequently, especially in older women.
Leakage caused by an overactive bladder, also known as urge incontinence, arises when the brain signals the bladder to empty even though it is empty. Mixed incontinence is a type in which these two forms are seen together. Finally, overflow incontinence is the name given to the leakage that occurs when there is more urine than the bladder can hold.
Treatment Methods
The treatments for urinary incontinence are preventive treatment, medical treatment and surgical intervention. The choice among these treatment methods is made according to the state of the condition. Today, because robotic surgery is becoming increasingly widespread in the field of medicine, urinary incontinence operations are also performed very successfully with robotic surgery. In patients in whom pelvic organ prolapse has developed together with urinary incontinence, the prolapse that has occurred in the bladder or the uterus can also be corrected with the intervention performed using robotic surgery.
Because procedures performed with robotic surgery are carried out through incisions smaller than 1 cm, patients stay in hospital for only one day. Less pain is seen after the operation. After the operation, it is possible for patients to continue their lives from where they left off within a short time. The results of procedures performed with robotic surgery are quite satisfying. The probability of urinary incontinence occurring again after the operation is around 10%.
Let’s decide on the right approach for you together
After your examination and imaging, we will discuss clearly whether robotic surgery is suitable for you.