Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence has been an underrated medical problem with vast social implications. The cost to healthcare systems that it poses is now known to be even greater than that of cardiovascular disease. There is therefore, a pressing need for the medical community and those working in this area to have access to the latest developments in the management of incontinence. Incontinence is a symptom with many causes. It can create a host of psychosocial problems, which can be traumatic to the sufferer and the carer. Urinary and fecal incontinence have seriously affected the quality of life for these people. Besides the traditional causes such as birth defects and neurological disorders, incontinence today is also a result of longevity, aggressive treatment for malignancies and complex injuries. This book examines incontinence and its management in the developing countries' context. The management of incontinence mandates knowledge of basic sciences, urodynamics, sound clinical practice, and surgical methodology including the new minimally invasive procedures and the latest electronics and bioengineering developments. In practice, therefore, several specialist are called upon to share the care of incontinent patients. There is a pressing need for a comprehensive book on incontinence that addresses this wide spectrum of professionals. This book aims to fill the void and enable physicians to equip themselves with both investigational and therapeutic modalities, in the management of incontinence.