Types of Bladder Control Problems

You may be one of millions of people who experience frustrating and embarrassing bladder control problems. These conditions, which prevent you from controlling when and how much you urinate, can make simple, everyday activities a challenge and social lives very difficult. There are different types of bladder control problems and some people have more than one type. You should be able to identify the type of bladder control problem you have by comparing your symptoms with the lists below.

Dr. August Accetta is sensitive to the needs of his patients Urinary Urge Incontinence If you suffer from urinary urge incontinence, you may: Have been diagnosed with overactive bladder. Lose urine as soon as you feel a strong need to go to the bathroom. Leak urine when you drink even a small amount of liquid, or when you hear or touch running water. Have frequent leaking episodes.

Significant Symptoms of Urgency-Frequency

With symptoms of urgency-frequency, you may:

• Have frequent, uncontrollable urges to urinate.
• Go to the bathroom more often than normal (more than seven times a day).
• Feel that your bladder is never completely empty.

Nonobstructive Urinary Retention

If you have retention, you may:

• Need a catheter to pass urine.
• Spend a long time at the toilet, but produce only a weak, dribbling stream of urine.
• Leak urine (sometimes called overflow incontinence).
• Not have a sensation of when your bladder is full.

Permanent Resolution to a Chronic Problem Dr. Accetta utilizes the implantable InterStim Therapy System which employs a mild electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves that influence the behavior of the bladder, sphincter, and pelvic floor muscles. In properly selected patients, Dr. Accetta's InterStim Therapy can dramatically reduce or eliminate symptoms. Benefits of Dr. Accetta's InterStim Therapy Effective urinary control via sacral nerve stimulation Proven efficacy in patients for whom more conventional therapy has been unsatisfactory Minimally invasive screening test and implant procedure Screening requires only 30 minutes and is performed in Dr. Accetta's office More than 25,000 patients have received InterStim Therapy worldwide since FDA approval in 1997

Clinical Results: 12 Month Study Sacral nerve stimulation works for patients with urinary control issues Clinical Success1 12-month results 79% success in urge incontinence - 45% remained completely dry - 34% experienced >50% reduction in leaking 64% success in urgency-frequency - 31% returned to normal voids (4 to 7 voids/day) - 33% experienced >50% reduction in number of voids 77% success in urinary retention - 61% eliminated use of catheters - 16% experienced >50% reduction in catheterized urine volume