Intravesical treatment of severe bacillus Calmette-Guerin cystitis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is an established treatment of carcinoma in situ and recurrent superficial bladder tumours. The inflammatory reaction due to BCG provokes cystitis of short duration as a frequent side effect. When the symptomatology is severe and long-lasting, different systemic treatments have been administered with varying degrees of efficacy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied the treatment of severe BCG cystitis with a anaesthetic anti-inflammatory solution administered by intravesical instillations to 16 patients. RESULTS: Good results were obtained in 94% of the cases, with immediate clinical improvement in terms of pain and urinary symptoms, and with no side effects. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment is inexpensive and easy to administer. We consider that it offers a useful option to solve an infrequent but very annoying problem for the patients.