Surgical treatment of intrinsic urethral dysfunction. Slings.

Slings are a durable and effective treatment for intrinsic sphincter deficiency, regardless of its etiology. The history of slings throughout the 20th century, and the current surgical technique, is described in this article. A comparison of slings with alternative treatments of intrinsic sphincter deficiency, such as artificial sphincters and collagen is presented. Slings play a significant role in the treatment of stress incontinence.