A sphincter is a circular muscle structure which controls the flow of bodily fluids such as urine. A normal sphincter prevents urine from leaking, however sometimes the sphincter fails and urine leaks out making you incontinent.
This can sometimes occur after surgical removal of the prostate for prostate cancer (such as a radical prostatectomy or robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy), or very rarely after surgery to improve the flow of urine (TURP).
It is quite common to become temporarily incontinent after undergoing prostate surgery. Occasionally this does not improve and treatment is required. Your urologist will advise you on the best type of treatment if you are having ongoing problems with leakage of urine after your prostate surgery.
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is a device for men who have urinary incontinence. It takes the place of the damaged sphincter to restore control of the flow of urine. It is a fluid-filled device that opens and closes the urethra to give you control of your bladder. The device is an implant (also known as a prosthesis), and is called an AMS800. It is designed and manufactured in the USA but has been implanted in men all over the world for over 30 years.
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