Conservative Bladder Management and Medical Treatment in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients.

To review the available data on non-surgical management for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and provide the most updated knowledge for readers. We categorized the bladder management approaches into storage and voiding dysfunction separately; both are minimally invasive, safe, and efficacious procedures. The main goals for NLUTD management are to achieve urinary continence; improve quality of life; prevent urinary tract infections and, last but not least, preserve upper urinary tract function. Annual renal sonography workups and regular video urodynamics examinations are crucial for early detection and further urological management. Despite the extensive data on NLUTD, there are still relatively few novel publications and there is a lack of high-quality evidence. There is a paucity of new minimally invasive and prolonged efficacy treatments for NLUTD, and a partnership between urologists, nephrologists and physiatrists is required to promote and ensure the health of SCI patients in the future.

Transurethral Incision of the Bladder Neck with or without Additional Procedure Resumes Spontaneous Voiding in Female Voiding Dysfunction-A Long-Term Retrospective Follow-Up.

AIM: This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of transurethral incision of the bladder neck (TUI-BN) with or without an additional procedure for female voiding dysfunction. METHODS: Women with voiding difficulty who underwent TUI-BN in the last 12 years were included. All patients underwent a videourodynamics study (VUDS) at baseline and after TUI-BN. A successful outcome was defined as having a voiding efficiency (VE) increase by ≥50% after treatment. Patients with insufficient improvement were chosen for repeated TUI-BN, urethral onabotulinumtoxinA injection, or transurethral external sphincter incision (TUI-ES). The current voiding status, surgical complications, and additional surgeries were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 102 women with VUDS evidence of a narrow bladder neck during voiding were enrolled. The long-term success rate of the first TUI-BN was 29.4% (30/102) and increased to 66.7% (34/51) after combining TUI-BN and an additional procedure. The overall long-term success rates were 74.6% in women with detrusor underactivity (DU), 52.0% in detrusor overactivity and low contractility, 50.0% in bladder neck obstruction, 20.0% in hypersensitive bladder, and 75% in stable bladder (p = 0.022). Patients with a lower maximum flow rate (Qmax), (p = 0.002), lower voided volume (p < 0.001), lower corrected Qmax (p < 0.001), lower ladder contractility index (p = 0.003), lower voiding efficiency (p < 0.001), but larger post-void residual volume (p < 0.001) had a satisfactory surgical outcome. Spontaneous voiding was achieved in 66 (64.7%) patients, de novo urinary incontinence in 21 (20.6%), and vesicovaginal fistula in 4 (3.9%), all were repaired. CONCLUSIONS: TUI-BN alone or in combination with an additional procedure was safe, effective, and durable in patients with DU to resume spontaneous voiding.

Surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea decrease the risk of erectile dysfunction: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) is significantly higher in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), compared with patients without OSA. However, there is limited evidence on whether surgical treatments in patients with OSA could decrease ED risk. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of surgical treatments for OSA on the risk of ED by analysis of claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2012. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified 20,675 male adults with newly diagnosed OSA during the study period; 16,040 patients ever received surgical treatments (treated cohort) and 4635 patients never received surgical treatments (untreated cohort). According to 3:1 propensity score matching, we analyzed 8337 patients in the treated cohort and 2779 controls in the untreated cohort. We estimated the incidence rates (IRs) and hazard ratios (HRs) of incident ED in both cohorts through the end of 2012. RESULTS: In a total study follow-up of 64,916 person-years, 396 (3.6%) patients developed impotence. The IRs of ED for the treated and untreated cohorts, respectively, were 55.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.6-55.9) and 76.1 (95% CI, 76.0-76.3) per 1000 person-years. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that surgical treatments for OSA patients were associated with a lower risk for ED (adjusted HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.98). Multivariate stratified analysis further verified that significant risk reduction of ED was present in OSA patients without hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, obesity, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: We found that OSA patients who received surgical treatments were associated with a lower risk for developing ED by 21%.

Female bladder neck dysfunction-A video-urodynamic diagnosis among women with voiding dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate bladder neck dysfunction (BND) in women with voiding dysfunction by video-urodynamic study (VUDS) and to examine the therapeutic results of different BND subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive women who had undergone VUDS for investigation of voiding dysfunction at our institution. The diagnosis of BND was made based on a nonfunneling bladder neck with or without high voiding detrusor pressure. Patients diagnosed as BND were retrieved, and the urodynamic parameters were compared with patients with dysfunctional voiding (DV) and other bladder outlet obstructions (BOO). RESULTS: Among 810 women with bladder outlet dysfunction, BND was noted in 100 (12.3%), poor pelvic floor relaxation in 336 (41.5%), DV in 325 (40.1%), cystocele in 19 (2%), and urethral stricture in 30 (4%). Compared with the normal tracing group, BND patients had a significantly smaller volume of bladder filling sensation (included first sensation of filling, full sensation and cystometric bladder capaicity) and a greater BOO index (BOOI) (all P < .05). Detrusor overactivity was noted in 46 (46%) BND patients. These urodynamic parameters in BND were not significantly different from patients with DV or other BOO. High-pressure BND had a greater BOOI, but low-pressure BND had a lower voiding efficiency. Both alpha-blocker therapy and transurethral incision of the bladder neck improved uroflow parameters in BND patients. CONCLUSIONS: BND includes 12.3% of women with bladder outlet dysfunction. High-pressure BND can cause anatomical BOO, whereas low-pressure BND is likely to affect micturition through inhibiting detrusor contractility. VUDS is the mainstay diagnostic tool to diagnose BND in women.

Therapeutic efficacy of mirabegron 25 mg monotherapy in patients with nocturia-predominant hypersensitive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mirabegron 25 mg daily in patients with nocturia-predominant hypersensitive bladder (HSB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study prospectively investigated 219 consecutive patients with nocturia-predominant HSB and treated with mirabegron 25 mg daily from July 2015 to 2016. Patient with nocturia episode decreased by ≥1/night after treatment was considered successful. The subjective symptom score, such as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of life index, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Urgency Severity Scale, patient perception of bladder condition (PPBC), and nocturia episodes per night, was assessed before and 1 month after mirabegron treatment and between successful and failed groups. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients, including 51 women and 168 men, were enrolled. The mean age of the population was 72.3 ± 11.0 years. Totally, 58 (26.5%) of the patients had improvement in nocturia at 1 month after treatment. Among them, 14 (27.5%) women and 44 (26.2%) men had improvement in nocturia episodes after treatment (P = 0.858). Compared the clinical data between successful and failed group, the baseline symptom scores were more severe in successful group, including IPSS-storage subscore (4.84 ± 2.09 vs. 4.11 ± 2.19, P = 0.031), OABSS (3.21 ± 0.67 vs. 2.91 ± 1.00, P = 0.037), and nocturia episodes (3.81 ± 0.95 vs. 3.095 ± 1.32, P = 0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed only a higher nocturia episodes (P = 0.046) predict a successful treatment result. Mirabegron 25 mg daily significantly improved PPBC score along the 3 months' follow-up (P < 0.05), and postvoid residual volume did not increase after mirabegron treatment in overall patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mirabegron 25 mg daily treatment showed a limited therapeutic effect on nocturia-predominant HSB patients. The patients with higher OAB symptoms predict a successful result.

Predictive Factors for a Satisfactory Treatment Outcome with Intravesical Botulinum Toxin A Injection in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

A botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) intravesical injection can improve the symptoms of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Patients with IC/BPS have different clinical characteristics, urodynamic features, and cystoscopic findings. This study assessed the treatment outcomes of a BoNT-A intravesical injection and aimed to identify the predictive factors of a satisfactory outcome. This retrospective study included IC/BPS patients treated with 100 U BoNT-A. The treatment outcomes were assessed by global response assessment (GRA) at 6 months. We classified patients according to different clinical, urodynamic, and cystoscopic characteristics and evaluated the treatment outcomes and predictive factors. A total of 238 patients were included. Among these patients, 113 (47.5%) had a satisfactory outcome (GRA ≥ 2) and 125 (52.5%) had an unsatisfactory outcome. Improvements in the IC symptom score, IC problem score, O'Leary-Sant symptom score, and visual analog scale score for pain were significantly greater in patients with a satisfactory outcome than in patients with an unsatisfactory outcome (all p = 0.000). The IC disease duration and maximal bladder capacity (MBC) were significantly different between patients with and without a satisfactory outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the MBC was a predictor for a satisfactory outcome. Patients with a MBC of ≥760 mL and glomerulations of 0/1 (58.7%) or glomerulations of 2/3 (75.0%) frequently had a satisfactory outcome. We found that BoNT-A intravesical injection can effectively improve symptoms among patients with IC/BPS, with a remarkable reduction in bladder pain. A MBC of ≥760 mL is a predictive factor for a satisfactory treatment outcome.

Repeat retropubic suburethral sling procedure is effective for recurrent female stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of repeat retropubic suburethral sling for recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 35 women with SUI who underwent repeat retropubic suburethral sling procedures between May 1994 and November 2014. Treatment outcome was assessed directly or by telephone interview. Sling position and urethral incompetence during straining and coughing after the procedure were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall continence rate after repeat suburethral sling procedures was 60% (21/35). Among the 35 women, 19 underwent a simple retropubic suburethra sling procedure and 16 underwent combined suburethral sling and other pelvic floor surgery; the success rate for these 2 groups was 84.2% (16/19) and 31.3% (5/16; P = .001), respectively. The success rate was 60% in patients with normal detrusor function (n = 18/30) and in those with detrusor underactivity (n = 3/5; P = 1.0). For patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency and bladder base hypermobility, the success rate was 63.6% (n = 14/22) and 53.8% (n = 7/13), respectively (P = .36). Among the 25 patients with transrectal ultrasound follow-up data, the success rate following placement of the second sling at the bladder neck, proximal urethra, middle urethra, and distal urethra was 50% (2/4), 87.5% (7/8), 36.4% (4/11), and 0% (0/2), respectively (P = .122). CONCLUSION: Repeat suburethral sling procedures for recurrent SUI are safe and effective. The position of the second sling at the proximal urethra resulted in a relatively higher continence rate relative to other sites.

Bladder dysfunction does not affect long-term success rate of the retropubic suburethral sling procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the long-term success rate of retropubic suburethral sling in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and different bladder function. METHODS: Surgical outcomes of women with SUI undergoing a retropubic suburethral sling procedure between October 1989 and November 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Bladder function was evaluated in every patient preoperatively using videourodynamic studies. Patients were classified as having stable bladder, detrusor overactivity (DO), or detrusor underactivity (DU). Baseline urodynamic parameters were analyzed and long-term therapeutic outcomes were compared among these three groups. RESULTS: In all, 403 patients underwent sling procedure for SUI. Of these, 291 (72.2%) had a stable bladder, 78 (19.4%) had DO, and 34 (8.4%) had DU. Mean (± SD) patient age was 60.2 ± 11.8 years, and the median follow-up was 97 months (interquartile range 24-325 months). Postoperatively, the overall continence rate was 83.4% (336/403). After surgery, 71 patients (17.6%) complained of dysuria, 14 (3.5%) complained of urgency incontinence, 25 (6.2%) had recurrent SUI requiring a secondary sling procedure, and urethrolysis was performed in 13 (3.2%). In the stable bladder, DO, and DU groups, the 5-year continence rates were 88.6%, 84.1%, and 79.4%, respectively (P = 0.59), whereas the 10-year continence rates were 83.8%, 72.9%, and 79.4%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the long-term success rate was similar among the three groups (P = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: The overall continence rate was 83.4% and the 10-year continence rate was satisfactory in all bladder function subgroups. Treatment outcomes were the same for women with SUI but different bladder function.

Predictive factors of adverse events after intravesical suburothelial onabotulinumtoxina injections for overactive bladder syndrome-A real-life practice of 290 cases in a single center.

AIMS: Patients often experience adverse events (AEs) after intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) treatment for overactive bladder refractory to antimuscarinic agents. We investigated the prevalence and predictive factors of AEs in such patients. METHODS: A total of 290 patients underwent intravesical BoNT-A (100 U) suburothelial injection. The age, gender, overactive bladder subtypes, medical co-morbidities, and neurological diseases of the patients were recorded. The maximum flow rate (Qmax ), voided volume, post-void residual (PVR) volume, and voiding efficiency (VE) at baseline were analyzed to identify adverse events within 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: Acute urinary retention (AUR) developed in 24 patients (8.3%), and urinary tract infection (UTI) occurred in 44 (15.2%) within 3 months of treatment. Large PVR volume (>200 ml) occurred in 81 (27.9%), 68 (24.3%), and 49 (18.4%) patients 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, respectively. AUR developed significantly more often in men, patients >61 years old, those with a baseline Qmax ≤15 ml/sec, PVR ≥100 ml, and VE <90%. Patients older than 61 years had a higher incidence of large PVR 1 month after treatment. Female gender and a baseline PVR volume ≥100 ml had a greater incidence of UTI. Age >61 years, low Qmax , low voiding efficiency, and large PVR at baseline were also risk factors for adverse events. CONCLUSION: AUR, UTI, and large PVR volume are common AEs after BoNT-A treatment. Patients with overactive bladders that are at risk of developing AEs after BoNT-A injection should be informed of the possible AEs. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:142-147, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Long-term Combination Therapy With α-Blockers and 5α-Reductase Inhibitors in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Patient Adherence and Causes of Withdrawal From Medication.

PURPOSE: To investigate long-term therapeutic effects and patient adherence to a combination therapy of a 5α-reductase inhibitor and an α-blocker and to identify causes of withdrawal from medication in patients with clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: BPH patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) receiving combination therapy with follow-ups for 1-12 years were retrospectively analyzed. Therapeutic effects were assessed at baseline and annually by measuring International Prostatic Symptoms Score, quality of life index, total prostate volume (TPV), maximal flow rate, voided volume, postvoid residual volume and prostate-specific antigen level. Causes of discontinued combination therapy were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 625 patients, aged 40-97 years (mean, 73 years) were retrospectively analyzed. All measured parameters showed significant improvements after combination therapy. Three hundred sixty-nine patients (59%) discontinued combination therapy with a mean treatment duration of 2.2 years. The most common reasons for discontinued treatment were changing medication to monotherapy with α-blockers or antimuscarinics (124 patients, 19.8%), receiving surgical intervention (39 patients, 6.2%), and LUTS improvement (53 patients, 8.5%). Only 64 patients (10.2%) were loss to follow-up and 6 (1.0%) discontinued combined treatment due to adverse effects. Smaller TPV after short-term combination treatment caused withdrawal from combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS: BPH patients receiving long-term combination therapy showed significant improvement in all measured parameters. Changing medication, improved LUTS and choosing surgery are common reasons for discontinuing combination herapy. A smaller TPV after short-term combination treatment was among the factors that caused withdrawal from combination therapy.