Use of heterologous collagen: Our experience

Abstract

– The use of bovine collagen cross-linked with glutaraldehyde microspheres is considered a good procedure in the treatment of incontinence caused by ISD. Its widespread use is due to the absence of toxicity, easiness of injection and lack of invasiveness. On the other hand its high cost and lack of long-term efficacy has to be considered. The authors report their preliminary experience in using collagen GAX to treat 5 women with ISD, 2 with recurrent SUI and 2 with vesico-vaginal fistulas. Although an unusual treatment for the latter, it could be considered as an alternative mini-invasive tool in these pathologies. The results were as follows: in the patients with ISD, 3 were cured (42.8%) and 2 improved (28.5%), while the 2 SUI patients remained the same (28.5%). Treatment of the vesico-vaginal fistulas was unsuccessful.