Urologists break new ground

A PRETORIA team of urologists have achieved a first with the introduction of an artificial urinary sphincter to treat severe loss of bladder control.

Dr Johan Venter of Netcare Pretoria East Hospital and his team used the new type of device, a Victor adjustable artificial urinary sphincter, for the first time in a private hospital when they surgically implanted it in a male patient from Krugersdorp two weeks ago.

The artificial urinary sphincter is widely considered the gold standard of treatment for complete urinary incontinence in men who have suffered irreparable damage to the urinary sphincter. Venter said the device was especially sent to South Africa from abroad at his request for the patient, who could not control his bladder during a cough, a sneeze or when lifting objects.

The Victor device has a pump that is palpated by the patient when he needs to urinate. This is made of soft silicone that is easy for the patient to operate and serves to deactivate the cuff of the sphincter so that the patient can pass urine normally.

“We were impressed by this new-generation artificial urinary sphincter option, our investigations revealing that it was the best new alternative available globally for cases such as this one.

“Some of the advantages it offers include that it is easy for patients to use and it does not require further invasive surgeries should it require adjustment in future,” Venter said.

The patient is currently healing and was discharged a day after the procedure.

The artificial sphincter is activated about six weeks after implantation.

The second procedure will be done on a Pretoria man with the same condition before it be offered as a standard treatment at the hospital.

“Dr Venter has always shown himself to be a pioneering and highly talented urology specialist. He has once again broken new ground by introducing this artificial urinary sphincter option, which I understand is being rolled out now and is increasingly used around the world, particularly in Europe, because of the advantages it offers over other similar technologies,” the hospital’s Jacques du Plessis said.