Minimally Invasive Sling for Incontinence

A new sling system for treating stress incontinence is minimally invasive and enables surgeons to use a safer and simpler placement procedure that reduces the risk of bowel perforation.

The Sparc Sling System is designed to support the female urethra and thereby prevent incontinence. The suprapubic placement technique employs thin, curved stainless steel needles advanced through two tiny incisions above the pubic bone to a vaginal incision below the urethra. The specially designed sling is then transferred through the needle tunnel. Following placement, the sling is adjusted to provide support to the urethra. Most patients should be able to return home the day of the procedure. The new sling system was developed by American Medical Systems (Minneapolis, Min, USA).

"We believe that by passing the thin needles from above, the risk of perforating the bowel or damaging blood vessels near the bladder will be substantially less than with a vaginal approach,” said Dr. David Staskin, Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA, USA). "Using the pubic zone as an anatomical guide will allow the surgeon to stay within a safety zone.”




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American Medical Systems