New ‘Sling’ Targets Stress Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery

There’s advanced and there’s beyond advanced, and Dr. Richard Kershen entered the latter realm when he became one of the first urologists in the United States to implant a newly available urethral sling system in men struggling with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) as a result of previous prostatectomy.

In light of his experience implanting Boston Scientific’s AdVance male sling, and the positive results his patients have realized, Dr. Kershen, a urologist with Hartford HealthCare’s Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute, was tapped by the manufacturer to help develop an instructional video to teach the new technique to other surgeons across the country.

“This new sling system, the AdVance XP Sling, will help restore urinary control to men who have unfortunately suffered SUI from previous prostate removal,” he said. “This new sling has some design modifications which will help make our already excellent results even better.”

SUI is the result of weakened muscles in the urethra that allow urine to leak out when pressure is put on the abdominal area by such normal actions as sneezing, laughing, lifting or coughing. While less common in men than women, SUI occurs in about 15 percent of men over the age of 60.

The device Dr. Kershen has been implanting – approved in use in Europe for about five years but only recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration — is a sub-urethral sling designed to reposition and support the urethra and, therefore, prevent urine leakage. Dr. Kershen has implanted the prior generation AdVance sling system using a minimally-invasive approach in hundreds of patients at both Hartford Hospital and The Hospital of Central Connecticut over the last six years.

“Patients are extremely happy with the change the sling system brings them. They are often fully continent immediately after the procedure and can get back to most activities in four to six weeks,” he said.

For more information on the male sling for tress urinary incontinence and available treatment at Hartford HealthCare’s Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute, click here.