[Short version of the S2k guideline on drug therapy of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD)]. / Kurzfassung der S2k-Leitlinie medikamentöse Therapie der neurogenen Dysfunktion des unteren Harntraktes (NLUTD).

BACKGROUND: In Germany about one million patients suffer from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). If left untreated, various forms of NLUTD can lead to secondary damage of the lower and upper urinary tract. Thus, the guideline was developed for the drug therapy of patients with NLUTD, who frequently require lifelong care and aftercare. METHODS: The guideline was developed in a consensus process with several meetings and online reviews, and final recommendations were decided on in online consensus meetings. Ballots were sent to elected officials of the contributing professional societies. Level of consensus was given for each coordinated recommendation ( https://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/043-053.html ). RESULTS/MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS: (Video)urodynamic classification of the NLUTD should be conducted before the use of antimuscarinic drugs (84.2%). Approved oral antimuscarinics should be used as first choice. Contraindications must be respected (100%). If oral treatment is ineffective or in the case of adverse drug reaction (ADRs) alternatively instillation of oxybutynin solution intravesically (83%) or onabotulinumneurotoxine (OBoNT) injection should be offered (89.5%). In case of failure or ADRs of antimuscarinics, ß3 sympathomimetic mirabegron can be used to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) (off-label use) (100%). In case of paraplegia below C8 or multiple sclerosis with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of ≤ 6.5, OBoNT injection can be offered as an alternative (89.5%). Drug therapy for NDO should be started early in newborns/young children (84.2%). Conservative, nondrug therapy should be considered in frail elderly (94.7%). No parasympathomimetic therapy should be used to treat neurogenic detrusor underactivity (94.7%). CONCLUSION: Precise knowledge of the neurological underlying disease/sequence of trauma and the exact classification of the NLUTD are required for development of individualized therapy.

[Objective and subjective requirement of aids and appliances in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction : Multicenter study to determinate the daily necessity of urological aids and appliances]. / Objektiver und subjektiver Hilfsmittelbedarf bei Patienten mit neurogenen Harnblasenfunktionsstörungen : Multicenterstudie zur Ermittlung des täglichen Bedarfs an urologischen Hilfsmitteln.

BACKGROUND: The provision of urological appliances for patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is essential. Hitherto existing standard guidelines for the estimation of monthly material requirements are based solely on estimates. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to define the objective and subsequently subjective requirements for urological appliances on a scientifically validated basis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data concerning bladder management and daily consumption of urological appliances for patients with NLUTD were collected through a standardized survey at six different centers in Germany during the period of October to December 2014 and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: In all, 767 patient records were analyzed: 543 men and 221 woman (N/A = 3). The daily disposable catheter consumption of 577 patients who exclusively used intermittent catheterization was 5.13. Patients who used other means of bladder emptying (n = 31) in addition to catheterization consumed on average 3.17 catheters. The margin of deviation was larger for children. Of the 608 patients with intermittent catheterization, 94 (15.5 %) required additional paddings as absorbent aids (on average 2.29 paddings per day), 34 patients (5.6 %) additionally used pants (2.55 per day) and 46 patients (7.6 %) utilized condom catheters (3.81 per day) between catheterization. Among all surveyed patients, 126 (16.4 %) used paddings (5.03 per day) and 51 patients (6.6 %) pants (3.03 per day). Of all male respondents 82 (15.1 %) used condom catheters (2.80 urinary sheaths per day). CONCLUSION: Applying twice the standard deviation of the mean as a measure of assessing the objective requirement of urological appliances and aids for adult patients with NLUTD allows the following daily thresholds to be defined: 1-9 disposable catheters, 0-7 urinary sheaths, 1-9 paddings and 0-7 pants. These thresholds can serve as a basis for estimating the subjective need. They allow for a scientifically validated benchmark for an economically feasible and patient-tailored supply with urological aids and appliances. Individually required appliances and aids have to be recognized. Verifiable quality standards need to be developed.

Sacral anterior root stimulation improves bowel function in subjects with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effect of the sacral anterior root stimulator (SARS) on neurogenic bowel dysfunction in a large, well defined spinal cord injury (SCI) cohort. SETTING: Department of Neuro-Urology, Bad Wildungen, Germany. METHODS: Subjects undergone surgery at for SARS-SDAF (sacral deafferentation) between September 1986 and July 2011 (n=587) answered a questionnaire. In total, 277 SARS subjects were available for the baseline (recall) and follow-up comparison. RESULTS: Median age was 49 years (range: 19-80), time from SCI to surgery was 10 years (range: 0-49) and from surgery to follow-up 13 (range: 1-25). Of the responders 73% used SARS for bowel emptying. On visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0-10 (best), satisfaction with SARS was 10. Baseline and follow-up comparison showed a decline in the median VAS score 0-10 (worst) for bowel symptoms from 6 (range: 4-8) to 4 (range: 2-6), P<0.0001; median neurogenic bowel dysfunction score from 17 (range: 11-2) to 11 (range: 9-15), P<0.0001; median St Marks score from 4 (range: 0-7) to 4 (range: 0-5), P=0.01; and median Cleveland constipation score from 7 (range: 6-10) to 6 (range: 4-8), P<0.0001. Use of suppositories, digital evacuation and mini enema and subjects totally dependent on assistance during defecation were significantly lower after SARS. CONCLUSIONS: The SARS has the potential to be one of the few treatment methods targeting multiple organ dysfunctions following SCI.

[Modern neurological treatment strategies for patients with spinal cord injury]. / Moderne neurourologische Therapiestrategien bei Patienten mit Rückenmarksschädigung.

Modern treatment methods for neurogenic bladder dysfunction take into consideration the primacy of obtaining good bladder storage capacity by merely lowering the leak point pressure. The medical benefit for the patient is seen in the stability of renal function and the social advantage in achieving continence. The development of modern findings on the management of neuro-urological disorders in spinal cord injury as well as the underlying principles, indications, and benefits of the most frequently applied treatment approaches are described.

Clinical evaluation of a newly developed catheter (SpeediCath Compact Male) in men with spinal cord injury: residual urine and user evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of a new 30-cm-long, telescoping male intermittent catheter (SpeediCath Compact Male; Coloplast A/S, Humlebæk, Denmark) in urinary bladder emptying, safety and subject acceptance vs a standard-length male intermittent catheter (SpeediCath). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, multicenter, crossover non-inferiority study, 37 male intermittent catheter users self-catheterized three times with the test catheter on one test day and three times with the standard-length male (reference) catheter on another test day. Residual urine (RU) volume in the bladder after catheterization was measured by ultrasound. Safety was assessed in the entire study period in terms of adverse events (AEs) and adverse device events (ADEs). Subjects evaluated their experience, sensation, disposal, bleeding and discomfort with the test and reference catheters and final catheter preference. RESULTS: SpeediCath Compact Male did not differ from the reference catheter in terms of performance (bladder emptying). The upper confidence limit of the mean difference between absolute RU volumes for the test and reference catheter groups did not exceed a pre-established non-inferiority limit of 20 ml, thereby showing the test catheter's non-inferiority to the reference catheter (that is, no worse at bladder emptying). The only AE/ADE reported was one instance of mild urethral burning for 30 min after catheterization, which was judged possibly related to the test catheter but resolved quickly. CONCLUSIONS: The SpeediCath Compact Male catheter is as efficient as a conventional intermittent catheter (SpeediCath) at emptying the bladder with the additional benefit of being more discreet and easier to use.

[Neurogenic urinary incontinence. Value of surgical management]. / Die neurogene Harninkontinenz. Stellenwert der operativen Therapie.

Damage to the CNS, the cauda equina, and the pelvic nerval structures causes neurogenic bladder dysfunction with neurogenic urinary incontinence (NUI). The definitive diagnosis of NUI is made with urodynamic examination methods. The most frequent cause of NUI is neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). The treatment concept must take into account the physical and emotional restrictions. The treatment of NUI due to NDO is a domain of conservative therapy, i.e., mostly antimuscarinics and intermittent catheterization (IC). In about 30%, there is a good chance for therapy failures. An advancement in therapy is the injection of BTX-A into the detrusor. The missing drug approval is a disadvantage.Operative treatments are considered if conservative and minimally invasive therapies are unsuccessful. Sacral deafferentation (SDAF) and sacral anterior root stimulator implantation (SARSI) are available as organ-preserving techniques only for paraplegics with NDO and reflex urinary incontinence and neuromodulation for the other forms of NDO provided that a successful percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) test has previously taken place. Augmentation cystoplasty is indicated if SDAF and neuromodulation cannot be used and the bladder wall is damaged irreversibly by fibrosis. Kidney function of at least 25% and acceptance of IC are prerequisites. Myectomy (autoaugmentation) has an indication similar to augmentation cystoplasty but there must not be any fibrosis. Bladder neck insufficiency (BNI) caused by paralysis or iatrogenically can be treated by the implantation of an alloplastic sphincter high at the bladder neck. A stable reservoir function is required. If not all methods are possible, the ileum conduit or the suprapubic bladder fistula can be the last resort.

Surgical therapy of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (hyperreflexia) in paraplegic patients by sacral deafferentation and implant driven micturition by sacral anterior root stimulation: methods, indications, results, complications, and future prospects.

Spinal cord injured patients with a suprasacral lesion usually develop a spastic bladder. The neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and the overactive external sphincter cause incontinence and threaten these patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), renal failure and autonomic dysreflexia. All of these severe disturbances may be well managed by sacral deafferentation (SDAF) and implantation of a sacral anterior root stimulator (SARS). Since September 1986 to December 2002, 464 paraplegic patients (220 females, 244 males) received a SDAF-SARS. The SDAF was done intradurally in almost all cases, which means that we used a single operation field to do a two-stages procedure (SDAF and SARS). The results include data on 440 patients with a mean follow-up of 8.6 years (18 months to 18 years) until December 2004. The complete deafferentation was successful in 95.2%. Of these patients, 420 paraplegics use the SARS for voiding, (frequency 4.7 per day) and 401 for defecation (frequency 4.7 per week). Continence was achieved in 364 patients (83%). UTIs decreased from 6.3 per year preoperatively to 1.2 per year postoperatively. Kidney function remained stable. Early complications were 6 CSF leaks and 5 implant infections. Late compli cations included receiver or cable failures and required surgical repair in 44 patients. A step-by-step program for trouble-shooting distinguishes implant failure from myogenic or neurogenic failure. SDAF is able to restore the reservoir function of urinary bladder and makes the patient achieve continence. Autonomic dysreflexia disappeared in most cases. By accurate adjustment of stimulation parameters, it is possible for the patient to have a low resistance micturition. The microsurgical technique requires intensive education. In addition, the therapist should be able to manage late complications.

[Botulinum toxin for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor hyperactivity. Consensus paper on use for neurogenic bladder dysfunction]. / Botulinumtoxin in der Therapie der neurogenen Detrusorhyperaktivität. Konsensuspapier zum Einsatz bei einer neurogenen Blasenfunktionsstörung.

Due to elevated intravesical storage pressures, neurogenic bladder dysfunction carries a high risk of renal damage. Thus, the goals of neurourologic treatment are reduction of intravesical storage pressure and intermittent bladder emptying in order to protect renal function and to achieve continence. If anticholinergic medication is either ineffective or intolerable, several open and controlled studies showed that the injection of botulinum toxin A into the detrusor muscle is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment option. These studies demonstrated an effective reduction of storage pressures and a significant increase in bladder capacity. The effect has been shown to last up to a year. As this treatment is not approved by European administrations, botulinum toxin A treatment fulfills all criteria for "justified off-label use." The reduction of intravesical storage pressure leads to an improvement of life expectancy due to upper urinary tract protection. Furthermore, quality of life can be improved by low incidence of urinary tract infections, secure continence, and physiologic catheterization intervals.

[Neurourology. Current developments and therapeutic strategies]. / Neurourologie. Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Therapiestrategien.

There is no part of urology that has made so much progress in the last 25 years as neurourology. Seminal developments have been made in the selective effectiveness of drugs influencing neurogenic bladder dysfunction but having limited side effects. Additional advances are also likely to be made in the methods of functional electrostimulation and tissue engineering. Neurourology is predominantly influenced by our dynamic-functional understanding and the functionally oriented planning and implementation of treatment. The initial treatment options in many areas of neurourology are conservative, but, when possible, not irreversible. If these are ineffective or lead to late complications (e.g. by congenital paraplegia), there are a series of organ sparing or organ manipulating operations which can restore organ function. These make it possible to save kidney function from continuing damage, and, in many cases, to restore continence. The permanent indwelling catheter should remain excluded from the treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. With adequate treatment, patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction can be protected from severe complications and reintegrated into their normal social environment. After the acute phase of rehabilitation, urology is the most commonly required specialist area for paraplegic patients. In the past, urological problems have contributed most to the short lifespan of patients with an accident related spinal cord injury. Using modern neurourological treatment strategies, not only is lifespan increased but the quality of life of the patient is permanently improved.

Penile prostheses in paraplegic men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of penile prostheses in paraplegic men. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 1992, penile prostheses were implanted in 209 paralysed men of whom the records of 179 were evaluable. The indication for implantation was erectile dysfunction, penile retraction, or a combination of the two. RESULTS: The outcome of the implantation of semi-rigid prostheses was worse than that of semi-flexible or flexible prostheses. Antibiotic treatment and body disinfection reduced the infection rate to below that in a normal population. The results were satisfactory for patients with either problem and patients treated successfully for erectile dysfunction became more self-confident. CONCLUSIONS: When paraplegic patients are able to regain sexual activity after successful implantation of a penile prosthesis, their self-confidence is increased. Prostheses might also be useful for patients who will not accept self-injection and for those using external condom drainage. Penile prostheses clearly have a place in the treatment of paralysed men.

Wallstents in patients with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia.

PURPOSE: For patients with spinal cord injuries who are unable to perform clean intermittent self-catheterization, sphincterotomy is performed most commonly to avoid high bladder pressure. This procedure causes additional trauma and does not always lead to a satisfactory result. Therefore, we sought an alternative therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We introduce our initial experience with the UroLume Wallstent* in the treatment of 51 patients with spinal cord injuries and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (observation time 12 to 36 months). Prior sphincterotomy was unsuccessful in all patients. RESULTS: All observed urodynamic, radiological and clinical findings improved, and the results are encouraging. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of this device seems to be appropriate in select paraplegic patients.