[메디컬투데이=김준수 기자] The discomfort index of urinary incontinence patients is rising amid the successive heat waves. It’s because the sweat is not enough to flow, and the urine leaks and smells bad. In particular, in summer, when unpleasant odors spread easily due to high temperature and high humidity, bacterial growth accelerates. Because of the increase in water intake, there is a lot of leakage of urine. There are many patients who are reluctant to go out because of this discomfort.
Treatment methods vary depending on the type of urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence, which accounts for 80-90% of the causes of urinary incontinence, requires surgical treatment. Stress urinary incontinence is a phenomenon in which urine leaks due to a sudden increase in abdominal pressure due to coughing, sneezing, or exercise. It occurs when the bladder and urethra are not sufficiently supported in a situation where the pelvic muscles are weakened due to pregnancy, childbirth, and aging, resulting in increased abdominal pressure.
In this case, it can be treated through TOT surgery (transobturator tape insertion). By using a mesh harmless to the human body, a belt-shaped tape is passed through the vagina from the middle of the urethra to the upper part of the urethra. It provides support when subjected to abdominal pressure and prevents leakage of urine. It is a fundamental treatment for stress urinary incontinence, different from vaginoplasty. In the case of TOT surgery, the national health insurance has been applied since 2007, so the out-of-pocket cost is small. In addition, the operation time is short, about 10 minutes, and the recovery period is short, such as showering from the next day.
In Case of some hospitals, there are many cases that promote that it is possible to treat urinary incontinence with methods such as pretty surgery or jillaser. However, this is misinformation, and the site that causes urinary incontinence and the site where surgery is performed are also different. In the case of stress urinary incontinence, since the cause of symptoms is damage to the pelvic floor muscles, it can recur if it is not improved.
▲ Director Kwon Jeong-eun (Photo = Courtesy of Hestia Women’s Clinic)
On the other hand, non-surgical treatment is possible for urinary incontinence and mixed incontinence. Urgency urinary incontinence is when urine leaks due to a sudden urge to urinate. Mixed urinary incontinence refers to a combination of urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence. In this case, it is possible to treat with non-surgical methods such as Kegel exercise, electrical stimulation therapy, and drug treatment for urinary incontinence, as well as TOT surgery.
Kwon Jeong-eun, representative director of Hestia Women’s Clinic, said, “Many people are reluctant to visit the hospital because of embarrassment and shame. However, if treated early, the prognosis is better, so if you suspect urinary incontinence, you should visit the hospital immediately and receive appropriate treatment. At this time, if you get a urodynamic test, you can diagnose the exact symptoms of urinary incontinence at the same time as the patient’s treatment plan.”
“In addition, female plastic surgery and urinary incontinence surgery, which are performed for beauty, have different purposes, and to prevent recurrence after surgery, only TOT surgery, which is the fundamental treatment of urinary incontinence, can be corrected. Therefore, when choosing a hospital for urinary incontinence surgery, you should choose a hospital that properly diagnoses urinary incontinence and treats it accurately so that there is no recurrence.”
Reporter Kim Junsu of Medical Today (junsoo@mdtoday.co.kr)
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
2023-08-18 11:00:00
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