Male sling

A male sling is suitable for men with less severe stress incontinence, usually after an operation to remove the prostate.

What is male sling?

A male slings is relatively new treatment option for male incontinence and their advantage is that they aren’t as invasive as some other treatment options. They are suitable for men with less severe stress incontinence, usually following an operation to remove the prostate.

How does male sling work?

A male sling is a sling made of synthetic mesh which is placed through a perineal incision to support the sphincter (control mechanism) and restore continence. They are relatively recent procedures with promising initial results, however, long term results and randomised trials are still lacking.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of the procedure are to limit or eradicate the need to wear pads following the surgery and to improve continence control.

How safe is the treatment?

All forms of surgery and anaesthesia carry an element of risk which your consultant will discuss in more detail with you. However to minimise risk patients will undergo thorough pre-operative check where your medical history will be taken, along with details about any medication, arrange any necessary blood tests, heart tracings, chest x-rays and infection screening.

Are there any side effects?

Some side-effects of undergoing this procedure can include:

The possibility of the sling becoming infected. Symptoms of infection are a high temperature and swelling or a discharge from the wound sites.
Scrotal and perineal pain or discomfort, with upper thigh pain and numbness which can due to the sensitivity of the area be initially severe. This should resolve after a few weeks.

Acknowledgements

Author: Mr Zaki Almallah, Consultant Urologist, MD; FRCS (Urol) based BMI The Priory Hospital. For further information visit www.TheBladderClinic.co.uk