NEW INCONTINENCE SURGERY AT TRINITAS HOSPITAL

Like more than 15 million other Americans, everyday behavior such as sneezing and carrying groceries would cause Blanca Sanchez to lose control of her bladder. The 45-year-old Elizabeth, New Jersey, woman had weakened muscles around her bladder and urethra and any abdominal pressure - such as sneezing, coughing or physical exertion - would cause leaks. Experts say childbirth and aging contribute to incontinence. The condition, which is more commonly found in women than men, required Sanchez to wear adult diapers and severely restricted her lifestyle. "I couldn't even go to parties. One time, I started laughing at a party and everything came out," said Sanchez, who began having the problem over five years ago.
These days however, Sanchez has less to worry about thanks to a new surgical incontinence procedure called the Tension-Free Vaginal Tape - the Gynecare TVT Obturator System, now being performed at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the only hospital in Union County and one of a handful in Northern New Jersey to offer the surgery. The TVT-O procedure is an improvement over other incontinence surgeries performed in the past because it requires only a local anesthetic, is minimally invasive, and takes only 30 minutes to complete, said Labib Edison Riachi, MD, a specialist in advanced pelvic surgery and urinary incontinence and founder of the Center for Advanced Pelvic Surgery at Trinitas Hospital.
"The ease of performing this surgery and the patients' ability to go back to work and do her regular activities is just a tremendous delight to both patients and physicians," said Dr. Riachi, who traveled to Europe to learn the procedure from the Belgian doctor who invented it, Jean de Leval, MD. Doctors who perform the procedure enter the abdomen through the vagina

New Incontinence Surgery

and use specially designed surgical tools to place a small synthetic meshlike tape across the middle of the urethra. The tape, which is also used in surgeries to repair hernias, attaches to muscle tissue on an area of the pelvic bone called the obturator on either side of the urethra and acts as a hammock, or sling, that stabilizes the urethra. The new technique also is an improvement over other incontinence procedures because there is no danger of puncturing the bladder since it avoids the area altogether.
Gary Horan, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas Hospital, stated "our hospital has a history of encouraging medical innovation on the part of our medical staff, as it is frequent for the latest techniques in medicine to result in improved health and wellbeing of patients. With this new incontinence procedure, performed by Dr. Riachi, we are able to offer hope to these women."
Sanchez was able to walk out of the hospital after the short procedure and did not experience any pain. "When I got out from surgery, I thought that they didn't do anything to me because I didn't feel pain. I didn't feel anything," said Sanchez. She tested the results of her operation as soon as she stepped out of the hospital when she was overcome by an allergy attack and began sneezing. "It really worked," said Sanchez. Nearly three weeks later, Sanchez is pleased with her results. "For me, it's wonderful, a big change. I don't have to worry about wearing pads and be afraid like I used to be before," said Sanchez.
Dr. Riachi is a member of the Women's Care Physician's Group, LLC and the Medical Staff of Trinitas Hospital. For further information of Female Urinary Incontinence and the TVT-O procedure at Trinitas Hospital, please call (908) 282-2000.

About Trinitas Hospital

Trinitas Hospital is a full service healthcare facility and a Catholic teaching hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, serving those who live and work in Eastern and Central Union County. It is the result of the merger of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital in 2000. Operating on two major campuses, Trinitas Hospital offers 531 beds, including a 120-bed long-term care center. Trinitas Hospital provides comprehensive medical/surgical services, emergency services, senior services, adult and child/adolescent psychiatric care, cardiac care, cancer services, renal services, an infectious disease program, maternal/child health services including a high-risk newborn nursery, inpatient pediatric care, diabetes management center, wound healing center, sleep disorders center and a bloodless medicine program.