By By Kelly Quackenbush/The Meridian Star
April 19, 2001
A new procedure helps women take control of "stress urinary incontinence."
Dr. Scott Jordan of Rush Center for Women recently performed the hospital's first incontinence outpatient procedure.
Stress urinary incontinence is the unintentional release of urine during normal everyday activities including laughing, sneezing, coughing, walking, exercise or sitting up from a reclining position.
The new "synthetic sling" procedure uses a TVT Tension-free Support, a synthetic tape, to lift the bladder up and return it to its natural position. The minimally invasive surgery can be done on an out-patient basis using a local or spinal anesthesia. The new procedure has less risk of infection, voiding dysfunction and unnecessary bleeding than the traditional procedure.
The traditional procedure involves general anesthesia, a larger incision, sutures and a two- or three-day hospital stay.
Linda Bradley was one of the first patients to receive the new procedure from Dr. Jordan.
Jordan said the procedure was introduced in the United States five years ago and has an 80 percent success rate.
Kelly Quackenbush is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at kquackenbush@themeridianstar.com.