Prosthetic Urology

Prosthetic Urology at UVM Health

If conservative treatments like exercise and medication don’t bring relief from urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction, prosthetic treatments may help. Prosthetic urology uses implantable devices to help patients regain function and enjoy an improved quality of life.

At University of Vermont Health, our board-certified urologists have specialty training and decades of experience in advanced urologic prosthetics. Patients across Vermont and upstate New York receive leading-edge treatment from our compassionate and respectful team.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the region’s leading providers of prosthetic urologic solutions, we offer:

Personalized care: Our providers get to know you and spend time listening to your needs and goals for treatment. We offer many prosthetic devices and treatment options and make sure you understand your options so you can make an informed choice.
Team of professionals: Compassionate, highly trained doctors, advanced practice providers, nurses and support personnel work together to deliver your treatment. You can feel confident that you are receiving the most comprehensive care possible.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts. Your care includes the latest prosthetic devices and surgical techniques.

The doctor took the time to discuss all my options, and the positives and negatives for each treatment. He explained how the procedure was going to be done and made sure I understood everything.

UVM Health Patient

Conditions We Treat With Prosthetic Urology

Prosthetic solutions are surgical treatments that can help people with:

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI): Urine leakage when you cough, sneeze or exercise
Erectile dysfunction (ED): Inability to achieve an erection

What to Expect

To determine if a prosthetic solution could be right for you, your doctor will complete a physical examination. They will also ask about your medical history and lifestyle and your goals for treatment. You may need additional tests so your doctor can get more information about your condition.

At the University of Vermont Health, we offer a wide variety of prosthetic treatments for urinary incontinence and ED, including:

Prosthetic Treatments for Stress Urinary Incontinence

We offer a variety of minimally invasive solutions for leaky bladder, including:

Urethral sling: Providers create a sling out of mesh or your body’s own tissues. The sling supports the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body), so the urethra stays closed and doesn’t leak.
Bladder (sacral nerve) stimulators: A small electrical device implanted next to the sacral nerve and under the skin in the buttocks or low back stimulates the sacral nerve to regulate bladder activity.
Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS): Your surgeon places a small, fluid-filled ring around the urethra to keep it closed. To urinate, you press a button under the skin that deflates the ring and opens the urethra.

Penile Implants for ED

Surgical treatment options to alleviate erectile dysfunction include:

Inflatable penile implant: Your provider inserts two inflatable chambers in the penis, a pump in the scrotum and a fluid-filled reservoir in the scrotum or abdomen. To achieve an erection, you activate the pump, which transfers fluid from the reservoir to the chambers. After sexual activity, you reverse the process to move the fluid back to the reservoir.
Bendable penile implant: Your provider inserts a pair of semi-rigid rods in the penis. These rods make the penis firm at all times. For sexual activity, you position the penis outward. To conceal the penis, you bend it downward.

Revision and Correction Surgery

We offer corrective surgery for implantable prosthetics that no longer function. Our reconstructive urology specialists have considerable skill and expertise in these delicate procedures.