Sudden Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a condition among women who have poor bladder control and who lose urine in certain stress situations like coughing, sneezing or exercising. To help correct this problem and restore bladder control, surgical procedures called urethral sling procedures can be used to create a sling around the neck of the bladder and the urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder) to keep the bladder closed during stress situations.

Depending on the type of sling used, and Dr. Ghomi’s direction, these procedures may be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. Dr. Ghomi is a board-certified urogynecologist specializing in vaginal sling procedures at his urogynecology office in North Jersey. To learn more about how a vaginal sling can treat your bladder leakage, please call (862) 657-3150 or request an appointment through our secure online form.

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What Are The Types of Vaginal Slings?

Urethral sling procedures involve using strips of the patient’s own body tissue or synthetic mesh to create a sling that supports and cradles the bladder and urethra. There are several types of urethral sling procedures, which include:

What Are Tension-Free Slings?

In this procedure, synthetic mesh material initially holds the sling in place, and the scar tissue that forms around the mesh prevents it from shifting. There are three approaches to creating tension-free slings:

  • Retropubic (also known as Suprapubic): A small incision is made inside the vagina. Two small openings are then made above the pubic bone through which the sling is inserted and positioned inside the body. Stitches are not required to hold the sling in place.
  • Transobturator: This newer approach reduces the risk of injury to the urethra and bladder. A similar vaginal incision is made, but the sling arms are not passed between the pubic bone and bladder. Like the retropubic approach, stitches are not necessary to secure the sling.

What Are Adjustable Slings?

Adjustable slings are still under study but allow for sling tension to be adjusted during and after surgery. Once the sling is in place and the patient is alert, the tension can be adjusted to meet the patient’s specific needs. If adjustments are required months or even years after surgery, a local anesthetic is sufficient to access the adjustable portion of the sling.

What Are Conventional Slings?

In this type of sling, the surgeon inserts a sling through an incision in the vagina and wraps it around the neck of the bladder. Made from synthetic material, the patient’s own tissue, or donor tissue, the ends of the sling are passed through a small incision in the abdomen and stitched to pelvic tissue or the abdominal wall. This method may require larger incisions and an overnight hospital stay.