Abstract
Purpose:
To assess the effectiveness of periurethral microballoon implantation for management of female urinary incontinence.
Patients and Methods:
A total of 45 women with urinary incontinence (age range 47–88 years) were treated between May 2000 and June 2001. Microballoons were placed in the proximal periurethral tissue using endoscopic instrumentation under local anesthesia. Follow-up assessment including urodynamic study and quality- of-life assessment was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months.
Results:
Implantation was successful in all cases with no significant adverse effects. Cure was achieved in 60% and improvement in 5%. The failure rate was 35%. Microballoon implantation significantly increased the mean urethral closure pressure, from 35.2 cm H2O (SD 14.9; range 15–72 cm H2O) to 46.5 cm H2O (SD 19.7; range 16–87 cm H2O) (P = 0.001). The best predictors of successful outcome in univariate analysis were initial urethral closure pressure (P = 0.047) and degree of incontinence (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Periurethral microballoon implantation is a useful technique for the management of female urinary incontinence, especially in elderly and inoperable patients. The microballoons do not present the adverse effects associated with other bulking agents.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.