Queen Mary Hospital introduces latest device treating incontinence

Queen Mary Hospital introduces Asia's very first adjustable transobturator male system -- a device which helps to regulate loss of bladder control for those who have undergone prostate cancer surgery.

The device has been applied to 16 cases so far, with hospital staff stressing the system should be expanded to broader usage.

Incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is one of the most common symptoms of post-prostate cancer surgery.

In the past, an artificial urinary sphincter would be used on patients who suffer from medium to serious cases of incontinence. But the device often ages quickly with around half of those who use such sphincters requiring a replacement surgery within a decade.

This as Queen Mary Hospital introduces a new device known as the adjustable transobturator male system, which does not require any replacement surgery for users.

It is a sling-like device with a cushion in the middle. So, after we implant the device, there will be a cushion outside of the urethra, it will exert a gentle pressure onto the urethra so that it helps with the patients' stress urinary incontinence and keep it in place. We were the first ones to introduce the latest generation.

71-year-old Mr. Cheung, who experienced incontinence after undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, says the latest system from Queen Mary Hospital greatly improved his condition.

He notes he didn't need to use any adult diapers since undergoing the surgery a year ago.

The hospital emphasises the usage of the device should be expanded to the wider population, adding the incontinence-control system could be used on patients who have relevant surgical incisions, are affected on a daily level by incontinence or require the use of diapers.

Queen Mary Hospital staff said future efforts to tackle patients' incontinence include improving methods to completely cure the loss of bladder control as well as developing less-invasive surgery for the condition.

The hospital further stressed it will prioritise relevant education for patients suffering from the symptom.