Loss of bladder control is not a disease. Rather, it is a sign that a problem may exist. Regular leakage of urine can occur with certain movements, during pregnancy or times of stress. When leakage of urine becomes frequent or severe enough to become a social or hygienic problem, it is called urinary incontinence. Leakage of urine that cannot be controlled should prompt the patient to see a doctor. Proper diagnosis and treatment may correct the problem and ease the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery uses a thin, telescope-like instrument known as an endoscope, which is inserted through a small incision at the belly button. The endoscope is connected to a tiny video camera which projects an "inside" view of the patients body onto television screens in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with a carbon dioxide gas allowing the doctor to view the patients internal structures. By lifting tissue next to the bladder, the "bladder neck suspension" procedure alleviates the pressure placed on the urethra. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with a stitch or two or with surgical tape. Within a few months, the incisions are barely visible.
