Treatment choice, duration, and cost in patients with interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: In order to better understand provider treatment patterns for interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome, we sought to document the therapies utilized and their associated expenditures using a national dataset. METHODS: A cohort was created by applying the ICD-9 diagnosis of IC (595.1) to INGENIX claims for the year 1999. Subjects were followed for 5 years, and patterns of care and related expenditures were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 553,910 adults insured in 1999, 89 subjects had a diagnosis of IC with 5-year follow-up data. All subjects were treated with oral medication(s), 26% received intravesical treatments, and 22% underwent hydrodistension. Total expenditures per subject were $2,808. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of IC expenditures were attributable to oral medical therapy. Hydrodistension and intravesical instillations were utilized in less than 25% of patients. Hydrodistension was used more frequently among subjects with a new diagnosis; this may reflect its utilization as part of a diagnostic algorithm.

Short-term results of bilateral S2-S4 sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain.

We evaluated the efficacy of bilateral caudal epidural sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory chronic pelvic pain (CPP), painful bladder syndrome, and interstitial cystitis (IC). Thirty consecutive patients (21 female, 9 male) with severe refractory symptoms underwent bilateral S2-S4 sacral neuromodulation for CPP/IC. Patients were evaluated with the O'Leary IC symptom and problem index (ICSI, ICPI), the short form of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and the RAND 36-item health survey (SF-36) preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The mean and minimum follow-up were 15 and 6 months, respectively. Of the 30 patients, 23 (77%) had a successful trial stimulation and were permanently implanted. Among these patients, the ICSI and ICPI scores improved by 35 (p = 0.005) and 38% (p = 0.007), respectively. The pain score improved by 40% (p = 0.04) and the UDI-6 score by 26% (p = 0.05). On average, patients reported a 42% improvement in their symptoms. SF-36 scores did not improve significantly. In refractory patients, bilateral caudal epidural sacral neuromodulation is another possible mode of treatment, which appears to improve both pelvic pain and voiding symptoms.

The effects of bilateral caudal epidural S2-4 neuromodulation on female sexual function.

This is a pilot study to evaluate the effects of caudal epidural S2-4 neuromodulation on female sexual function in a population of women with voiding dysfunction. We prospectively studied 36 consecutive female patients who underwent caudal epidural sacral neuromodulation. Patients received the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Six months after permanent implantation, the overall score on the FSFI improved by 52% (p = 0.05). Results were better in patients who underwent the treatment for voiding dysfunction compared to those who had pain as their primary complaint. In this group, the overall score improved by 157% (p = 0.004). Stimulation of S2-4 by bilateral caudal epidural neuromodulation in this small group of women with voiding dysfunction, retention, and/or pelvic pain resulted in self-reported improvements in sexual function. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of S2-4 sacral stimulation in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction.

Bilateral caudal epidural neuromodulation for refractory urinary retention: a salvage procedure.

PURPOSE: Sacral neuromodulation with InterStim is approved for idiopathic urinary retention with a success rate of approximately 69%. To our knowledge currently no alternatives exist for patients in whom S3 neuromodulation fails. We report a new technique and our experience with bilateral caudal epidural neuromodulation in patients in urinary retention in whom unilateral or bilateral S3 InterStim failed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients with multifactorial urinary retention in whom S3 InterStim previously failed underwent retrograde placement of bilateral tined leads into the caudal epidural space for sacral nerve stimulation. Patients with a 50% or greater clinical response underwent stage 2 Synergy-Versitrel implantable pulse generator placement. Patients were evaluated with voiding diaries, the Urinary Distress Inventory Questionnaire short form, quality of life assessment, need for catheterization and post-void residual urine preoperatively, and 6 months after implantation. RESULTS: Five of the 8 patients experienced return of micturition and underwent placement of a permanent implantable pulse generator. At 6-month followup 4 of the 5 patients voided to completion. One patient improved more than 50% and now catheterizes once daily with a post-void residual urine of 200 cc. There was a significant decrease in obstructive symptoms on the Urinary Distress Inventory Questionnaire short form and improved overall quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first report of the use of bilateral caudal epidural neuromodulation for refractory urinary retention. This therapy can be successful in patients in whom prior InterStim therapy failed.

Bladder necrosis following hydrodistention in patients with interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE: Bladder hydrodistention is used to diagnose and treat patients with interstitial cystitis. This procedure has been shown to have minimal morbidity and provide symptomatic relief in a subset of patients with interstitial cystitis. We report our experience with almost total bladder necrosis after hydrodistention at 2 institutions. To our knowledge this rare complication has not been previously reported in the literature. We also reviewed the literature regarding complications of hydrodistention and discuss their possible etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report 3 cases of bladder necrosis after therapeutic hydrodistention for interstitial cystitis at 2 institutions. All records were reviewed, and the clinical presentation, findings and treatments are discussed. A literature review was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of hydrodistention for interstitial cystitis. RESULTS: There were 2 female and 1 male patient between ages 29 and 46. All patients had a previous diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and had been previously treated with hydrodistention. All patients presented with severe abdominal pain and had necrosis of the entire bladder wall with sparing of the trigone. Two patients were treated with supratrigonal cystectomy. A review of the literature revealed little data on the effectiveness of hydrodistention for interstitial cystitis. CONCLUSIONS: Vesical necrosis is a rare but devastating complication of hydrodistention. It can occur in young patients in the absence of a contracted bladder and it usually presents as severe postoperative abdominal pain. At exploration bladder necrosis with sparing of the trigone was observed. All patients required enterocystoplasty.

Evaluation of synchronous twin pulse technique for shock wave lithotripsy: determination of optimal parameters for in vitro stone fragmentation.

PURPOSE: The Twinheads extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (THSWL) is composed of 2 identical shock wave generators and reflectors. One reflector is under the table and the other is over the table with a variable angle between the axes of the 2 reflectors. The 2 reflectors share a common second focal point, making it possible to deliver an almost synchronous twin pulse to the targeted stone. We studied the optimal parameters for in vitro stone fragmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of 1 cm artificial stones were used, namely Bon(n)-stones of 3 compositions (75% calcium oxalate monohydrate [COM] plus 25% uric acid, struvite and cystine) and plaster of Paris. The parameters tested were shock wave number (100, 500 and 1,000), shock wave power (8, 11 and 14 kV) and angle between the reflector axes (67, 90 and 105 degrees). After the optimal parameters were determined we studied the disintegrative efficacy of THSWL for 3 types of human urinary calculi, including COM, calcium hydrogen phosphate (brushite) and cystine. Each stone received 1,000 twin shock waves at 14 kV with an angle of 90 degrees between the reflectors. All experiments were done using a rate of 60 twin shock waves per minute. Following lithotripsy stone fragments were processed and sized. The ratio of the weight of fragments greater than 2 mm-to-total weight of all fragments was calculated. RESULTS: Optimal stone fragmentation results for THSWL were obtained with the maximum number of shock waves (1,000) and full power (14 kV). There was no significant statistical difference in fragment size or the ratio of fragments greater than 2 mm with the use of different angles except for cystine and plaster of Paris calculi, for which the right angle was most effective. At application of the optimal parameters to human stones THSWL produced small fragment size for COM and cystine stones, while brushite stones were not fragmented to the same extent. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of synchronous twin pulse technology improves as the number of shock waves and power increase. A 90-degree angle between the shock wave reflectors is advantageous for certain stones (that is cystine and plaster of Paris) but it is not a factor for other stone compositions. THSWL has satisfactory disintegrative efficacy for human stones, especially COM and cysteine calculi.

Long-term results for Malone antegrade continence enema for adults with neurogenic bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term outcomes from the Malone antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure in adult neurogenic patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of adult patients who underwent the ACE procedure for neurogenic bowel was done. Patients were studied if they had follow-up of greater than 4 years. We compared pre-ACE and post-ACE toileting times, bowel continence status, and complications, and elicited patient subjective satisfaction with their quality of life. RESULTS: Six patients were available for study. Mean age was 35 years with a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. Urinary diversion was done in 5 patients. Pre-ACE toileting time was 190 +/- 45 minutes versus post-ACE toileting time of 28 +/- 20 minutes (P <0.001). Four of six patients pre-ACE were incontinent of stool per rectum compared with 1 of these 4 patients post-ACE (P = 0.03). Five patients were continent of stool per ACE stoma. Four patients (67%) had complications. Three of five patients (60%) who underwent synchronous urinary diversion required postoperative re-exploration. Five patients (83%) were satisfied with their outcome and rated their quality of life higher after the ACE procedure compared with pre-ACE. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE procedure is effective in the long-term management of adult neurogenic bowel. The complication and re-exploration rates are high. Patients must be properly selected to determine appropriate motivation.