What is an Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)?
An AUS is a device for men who have urinary incontinence, it takes the place of the damaged sphincter to restore continence. It is a fluid filled device that opens and closes the urethra to offer urinary control. The device consists of a cuff, a pump and a pressure regulating balloon and the following stages explain how it is fitted and activated: • An artificial urinary sphincter cuff is fitted around the urethra • Once fitted it inflates and squeezes across the urethra to close it • The cuff is connected to a balloon, placed underneath the powerful abdominal wall called the rectus muscle • The Consultant then takes a push button pump which is gently pushed into the scrotum before joining all of the pipes together before tucking them in • The patient then has to wait for six weeks before the Consultant can activate the pump, which will then enable him to be able to turn his water on and off himself by pressing a button when he feels the need to urinate, enabling him to return to a nor
