Urethral devices for managing stress urinary incontinence.

Although surgery remains the gold standard for managing the majority of patients with stress urinary incontinence or retention, not all patients are suitable candidates or desire surgery. For these patients, several urethral caps and inserts are available, which are described. In approximately 50% of patients, satisfactory control is achieved. Further investigation undoubtedly will yield better devices to serve the large number of patients with urinary control problems.