Frequently Asked Questions
To see real patients' comments about wearing The Spanner view these videos.
What Is The Spanner™ And What Is It Used For?
When you urinate your urine passes from your bladder through your urethra and out of your penis. You are able to start urinating because your brain tells your bladder to squeeze, while at the same time telling a valve, called the external sphincter to open. The bladder pushes the urine out of your body through your urethra, which is a tube that extends from your bladder to the tip of the penis. Often the reason that men cannot easily urinate is because their prostate gland, which surrounds the urethra, enlarges and blocks the flow of urine. (See figures below)
Common treatments for an enlarged prostate use heat to reduce its size. During the healing period, your prostate may swell and further block your urethra. You will need a catheter for the first few days after your treatment for your enlarged prostate. The Spanner is used after this catheter is removed. The Spanner is a medical device called a stent. The Spanner stent allows some men to urinate more comfortably as they recover from treatment for their enlarged prostate.
For more information on an enlarged prostate and treatment options visit www.urologyhealth.org - MIT.
How does The Spanner go in?
The Spanner is inserted into your penis using an introducer. Before inserting the stent, your doctor may put a numbing gel into the urethra through the tip of your penis to help make you comfortable.
 The Spanner is advanced until the tip is inside the bladder. (Fig. 1) |
 The balloon is then inflated with sterile water. (Fig. 2) |
|
|
 The introducer is then removed (Fig. 4), leaving the stent correctly positioned in the prostatic urethra. |
What is it like to wear the Spanner?
To see real patients' comments about wearing The Spanner view these videos.
Most men tolerate the stent very well, but some men have found it to be uncomfortable.
Compared to how you felt before the treatment for your enlarged prostate and having the Spanner inserted, it is possible that you will experience one or more of the following while wearing the Spanner:
- Feel like your bladder is emptying more completely.
- Be able to urinate without starting and stopping repeatedly.
- Have an improved stream.
- Be able to start urination easier.
And, you may:
- Have slight discomfort or burning sensation at the tip of penis during urination.
- Feel some amount of discomfort or pain in your perineum (the area under and behind your scrotum).
- Find it difficult to postpone urination and may have to go to the bathroom more frequently in the first few days of stent wear.
- Experience mild or moderate pain or discomfort during an erection.
How do I know the Spanner is working properly?
You can tell the stent is working because you feel like you are adequately emptying your bladder and are reasonably comfortable.
Caution: If you are frequently urinating only small amounts, your urination pattern has recently worsened, or you feel pressure in your bladder, the Spanner may not be helping with your urinary problems. You should contact your doctor immediately.
If you feel the Spanner needs to be removed for any reason, consult your doctor.
Can I have sex with the Spanner in place?
Wearing the Spanner does not preclude sexual activity. Of those men who engaged in sexual activity with the Spanner in place some reported mild or moderate pain or discomfort lasting less than 1 hour. The Spanner may interfere with erectile function and you may feel mild to moderate pain during an erection.
How Does the Spanner Come Out?
Caution: The Spanner must be removed by or under the supervision of a doctor. Removal of the Spanner by others may result in urinary retention or injury.
The doctor pulls the stent out using the retrieval string. Do not be concerned if you do not see the string. It is common for it to move into the urethra. Your doctor will still be able to take the stent out.
After locating the string, your doctor will gently pull on it. The string is connected to a plug that keeps the water in the balloon. When the plug is pulled, the water will drain out of the balloon. Once the balloon is empty, your doctor gently pulls the stent out.
Is Insertion or Removal of the Spanner Painful?
You may feel brief and temporary discomfort during insertion or removal of the Spanner. The doctor may use a numbing jelly in your urethra to make you more comfortable. Most Spanner patients experience mild or no pain upon insertion or removal of the device.
What Risks are Associated with the Use of the Spanner and What Should I do if they Occur?
The following guidelines will help you decide what to do for problems that may occur with use of the Spanner.
Important Note: If you go to an emergency room or consult a doctor other than the doctor who inserted the Spanner, take your emergency removal card with you. If you do not have your emergency removal card available, bring this booklet. It will provide useful information to the doctor or other staff who are caring for you.
Caution: The Spanner has not been evaluated for use with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). If a MRI is needed, the Spanner should be removed.
Caution: The Spanner patient contact surfaces are silicone rubber. If you have a known allergy or sensitivity to silicone please notify your doctor.
Would The Spanner work for me?
Ask your Doctor to help you decide. If your Urologist needs more information about The Spanner, direct him or her to this website or relay them to our Toll Free number 888 528 9073.
For more detailed information on The Spanner, please review the Patient Information Booklet by clicking on the link below.
Patient Information Booklet
