[Urinary bladder tamponade-an urological emergency]. / Harnblasentamponade ­ ein urologischer Notfall.

BACKGROUND: Urinary bladder tamponade is a urological emergency that is part of the clinical routine of every urologist and requires immediate and adequate diagnosis and therapy. OBJECTIVES: Presentation of the clinical picture of urinary bladder tamponade including etiology, diagnostics, and therapy as well as formulation of recommendations for action for clinical routine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Structured presentation of the diagnosis and therapy of urinary bladder tamponade with practical recommendations for action based on a current literature search and a clinical case study. RESULTS: Urinary bladder tamponade is a usually painful filling of the urinary bladder with blood clots as part of gross hematuria. The central pillars of diagnostics are anamnesis, targeted physical examination, and sonography. Therapy involves the rapid insertion of a flushing catheter with manual evacuation of the tamponade. A flushing catheter with at least 20 French should be used here. CONCLUSION: Timely diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial. This usually includes transurethral catheter insertion with manual evacuation. If the tamponade is unsuccessfully removed, further measures such as endoscopic evacuation or, as a last resort, sectio alta or radical cystectomy are available.

Underactive Bladder and Detrusor Underactivity: New Advances and Prospectives.

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a prevalent but under-researched lower urinary tract symptom that typically occurs alongside detrusor underactivity (DU). Unlike UAB, DU is a urodynamic diagnosis which the International Continence Society (ICS) defines as "a contraction of reduced strength and/or duration, resulting in prolonged bladder emptying and/or a failure to achieve complete bladder emptying within a normal time span". Despite the widespread prevalence of UAB/DU, there are significant gaps in our understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment compared with overactive bladder (OAB) and detrusor overactivity (DO). These gaps are such that clinicians regard UAB/DU as an incurable condition. In recent years, the understanding of UAB has increased. The definition of UAB has been clarified, and the diagnostic criteria for DU have been considered more comprehensively. Meanwhile, a number of non-invasive diagnostic methods have also been reported. Clinical trials involving novel drugs, electrical stimulation, and stem cell therapy have shown promising results. Therefore, this review summarizes recent reports on UAB and DU and highlights the latest advances in their diagnosis and treatment.

[Sacral neuromodulation for bladder voiding dysfunction: Experience at a French university center]. / Neuromodulation sacrée pour trouble de la vidange vésicale : expérience d'un centre universitaire français.

OBJECTIVE: To report the experience of a university hospital center with sacral neuromodulation for patients with bladder voiding disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients who underwent sacral neuromodulation between 1998 and 2022 for bladder voiding disorders were included. Medical records were analyzed retrospectively, and population, efficacy and follow-up data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients underwent test implantation and 122 patients were analyzed. 68 patients (56%) were implanted with a definitive neuromodulation device. Mean age was 43±16 years and BMI 25.5±5.4kg/m2. 74% were women. Bladder voiding disorder was due to sphincter hypertonia in 51% of cases, with associated bladder hypocontractility in 29%. The spontaneous micturition rate after implantation increased from 34% to 92%. Implantation results appeared to be better in patients with sphincter hypertonia, whether or not associated with bladder hypocontractility. The benefit was most often present with a frequency of 5Hz (54.4%). Side-effects were present in 52% of cases at 5 years, and in 85% of cases were pain in relation to the implanted devices. They resolved under medical treatment or after revision of the device (27% of cases at 5 years). CONCLUSION: SNM is effective in micturition recovery, but has side effects. Urodynamic mechanism and etiology may provide clues for modulating NMS box settings and determining predictive factors for NMS success. Data from other centers are needed to identify reliable predictive factors.

Neuropsychiatric Developmental Disorders in Children Are Associated With an Impaired Response to Treatment in Bladder Bowel Dysfunction: A Prospective Multi-Institutional European Observational Study.

PURPOSE: Bladder and bowel dysfunction is a common but underdiagnosed pediatric entity which may represent up to 47% of pediatric urology consults. The objectives of this observational study were to determine functional 1-year outcomes following standard treatment of bladder and bowel dysfunction in both control and neuropsychiatric developmental disorder groups using validated questionnaires, and to perform an initial cost analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted across a number of academic European centers (July 2020-November 2022) for new bladder and bowel dysfunction patients. Parents completed a sociodemographic survey, information pertaining to prior neuropsychiatric developmental disorder diagnoses, as well as a number of validated functional scores. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients were recruited. In the control bladder and bowel dysfunction group, the baseline Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System and Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire scores were 20% and 17.% lower, respectively, after 1 year compared to the neuropsychiatric developmental disorder group. The change in improvement was diminished for the neuropsychiatric developmental disorder cohort in both Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System and Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire scores. The odds ratio of full symptom resolution was 5.7 in the control cohort compared to the neuropsychiatric developmental disorder cohort. A cost analysis on prescribed medications at referral led to a total cost of €32,603.76 (US $35,381.00) in the control group and €37,625.36 (US $40,830.00) in the neuropsychiatric developmental disorder group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pediatric patients with a neuropsychiatric developmental disorder exhibit more severe bladder and bowel dysfunction at baseline and throughout treatment with a lower overall quality of life, as well as 15.4% higher medication costs at referral. It is also important that parents' and caregivers' expectations are managed regarding higher levels of treatment resistance for functional bladder and bowel issues.

Electroacupuncture protects against bladder dysfunction induced by acute urinary retention via TRPV1/ATP signaling pathway: An animal and human research study.

Electroacupuncture (EA) can protect against acute urinary retention (AUR); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Non-vesicular ATP release mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were identified as a key contributor to signaling in urothelial cells. In this study, the AUR model was established by urethral outlet obstruction in female Sprague-Dawley rats. EA was performed at SP6 and BL32 for 0.5 h prior to induction of AUR. EA reduced TRPV1 expression and urinary ATP concentrations in rat bladder, decreased the peak intravesical pressure during AUR, and attenuated abnormal voiding patterns and bladder pathological injury induced by AUR. Besides, 179 patients who experienced postoperative urinary retention were recruited and found that EA reduced urinary ATP concentrations and accelerated the recovery of spontaneous voiding. These observations indicate that EA exerts protection against AUR-induced bladder dysfunction by reducing urinary ATP concentrations through the regulation of TRPV1.

[Evaluation of management of patients under clean intermittent catheterization by general practitioners]. / Évaluation de la prise en charge des patients sous sondage intermittent propre par les médecins généralistes.

INTRODUCTION: Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC) is the method of choice for bladder emptying in patients having bladder emptying disorders, acquired or pharmacologically induced, whether it is neurologically related or not. The aim of this study is to assess the theoretical and practical knowledge of general practitioners (GP) on CIC. MATERIALS: Observational prospective study (anonymous online questionnaire) was conducted with 224 GP between March and April 2020. Each physician had to complete a questionnaire about the definition of CIC, its indications and usage, the indications of urine culture, antibiotic therapy, and the complications of this method of drainage. RESULTS: Only 18.3% of GP that took part in the study gave an exact definition of CIC. As to the importance of it, 67.9% responded that it protects the upper urinary tract and 37.1% that it prevents urinary tract infections (UTI). Fifty-two per cent of physicians were unaware of the regular frequency at which it should carry out a day. Fifty eight percent prescribed sterile gloves and 57.1% an antiseptic. UTI was considered as the main complication of CIC by 87.1% of physicians and 35.7% requested a systematic urine culture for patients under CIC. For patients with an asymptomatic bacteriuria, 65.6% of GP prescribed antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION: GP need to improve their knowledge of SIP, its framework, indications, modalities, and the way to deal with colonization or urinary tract infection. This will improve the management of impacted patients.

Amyloidosis of the Urinary Bladder: A Systematic Review and a Proposed Management Algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: To propose an algorithm for the management of bladder amyloidosis based on a systematic review of the literature, given that the bladder is the second most commonly affected organ of the urinary tract in the course of systemic or localized amyloidosis. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases utilizing PRISMA methodology from inception to November 30, 2020 (PROSPERO: CRD42020207855). RESULTS: We included 76 studies with 184 patients (9 case series and 67 case reports). Presenting symptoms of bladder amyloidosis comprised of hematuria, irritative or obstructive urinary symptoms, and cystitis-like symptoms. The diagnosis of amyloidosis was established by histologic examination of specimens retrieved during transurethral resection of bladder lesions. Complete endoscopic resection, the cornerstone of management of localized disease, was feasible in 89.1% cases. The included patients were followed up for a mean of 54 months, within which 65 patients (35.3%) recurred. The time to first amyloidosis recurrence was 20 months (range: 1-168). Additionally, 16 individuals presented with concomitant bladder amyloidosis and bladder cancer, while 4 developed bladder malignancy during follow-up. Due to the frequent and early recurrences of patients with bladder amyloidosis, a check-up cystoscopy at 3, 12, and 24 months' after initial resection is recommended. Recurrences should be managed with transurethral resection, while intravesical instillations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and cystectomy should be reserved for refractory cases. CONCLUSION: We propose a management algorithm for bladder amyloidosis based on the available evidence for this rare benign entity that mimics bladder cancer.

Successful conservative management of a spontaneous intraperitoneal urinary bladder rupture secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: a case report.

A spontaneous intraperitoneal bladder rupture is a rare, serious and life-threatening surgical emergency of various etiologies, with unspecific clinical presentation, and difficult diagnosis. Surgical treatment is the standard therapy for intraperitoneal bladder rupture; however, there is an increasing tendency toward conservative management in selected patients with favorable characteristics. Herein, we report a rare case of a 65-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with intraperitoneal bladder rupture following an episode of acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, and which was successfully managed conservatively with urinary bladder catheterization and antibiotic therapy, without any complication.

British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and Nurses (BAUN) consensus document: management of the complications of long-term indwelling catheters.

OBJECTIVE: To look at best evidence and expert opinion to provide advice in the form of a consensus statement lead by Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology (FNUU) section of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) in conjunction with the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN). METHODS: Initially a literature search was performed with incorporation of aspects of the existing guidance and further informed by UK best practice by core members of the group. The document then underwent reviews by the FNUU Executive Committee members, the BAUN executive committee, a separate experienced urologist and presented at the BAUS annual meeting 2020 to ensure wider feedback was incorporated in the document. RESULTS: Complications of long-term indwelling catheters include catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), purple urine bag syndrome, catheter blockages, bladder spasms (causing pain and urinary leakage), loss of bladder capacity, urethral erosion ("catheter hypospadias")/dilatation of bladder outlet and chronic inflammation (metaplasia and cancer risk). CONCLUSIONS: We have provided a list of recommendations and a troubleshooting table to help with the management of the complications of long term catheters.

Safety of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in patients under Sacral Neuromodulation with an InterStim Neuromodulator.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively investigate the safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients under sacral neuromodulation (InterStim II). METHODS: Data of patients who received a sacral neuromodulator at the urological department of a Swiss center of tertiary care from 2007 to 2018 and subsequently received at least 1 MRI with implanted device were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics, data on implantation, MRI characteristics and complications potentially related to the MRI were analyzed. In addition, patient interviews were performed to verify the data gathered from patient records. RESULTS: A total of 55 consecutive patients with a median age of 48 years (range 16 - 80 years) and a total of 191 MRIs (median 3, range 1 - 13) were included to the study. The majority of MRIs (92%) were performed with 1.5 Tesla. The majority of the 1.5 Tesla (58%) as well as 3 Tesla (56%) MRIs assessed body regions other than the head. Complication possibly related to the MRI were only found in 2 (1%) MRI scans in two patients who reported on transient electrifying pain and heat sensation at the implantation site of the neuromodulator during MRI. CONCLUSION: MRI scans in patients with an implanted InterStim II sacral neuromodulator and with the device being turned off seem to be safe, even if they involve body regions other than the head, at least with 1.5 Tesla.

Parasacral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation has been used to manage lower urinary tract symptoms refractory to standard urotherapy. Nevertheless, its actual effectiveness in treatment of bladder and bowel dysfunction remains to be established. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of children with bladder and bowel dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted with children and adolescents of 5-17 years of age diagnosed with bladder and bowel dysfunction. Patients with neurological or anatomical abnormalities of urinary or digestive tracts, those unable to attend treatment sessions 3 times a week, individuals with diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus and those using anticholinergic drugs or laxatives were excluded from the study. The sample was divided into 2 groups: a control group submitted to standard urotherapy plus sham electrotherapy applied to the scapular region and a treatment group submitted to urotherapy plus parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. All the patients were submitted to 3, 20-minute electrotherapy (parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or sham) sessions/week for a total of 20 sessions. RESULTS: Forty patients were evaluated, 20 in the control group and 20 in the treatment group. Mean age (±standard deviation) was 8.4±2.8 years and 52.5% were male. In 15 patients (37.5%), rectal diameter was ≥3 cm. Lower urinary tract symptoms improved in both groups following treatment, with no statistically significant differences in Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System score, lower urinary tract symptoms or uroflowmetry patterns between the groups. Intragroup evaluation showed a significant improvement in enuresis in the treatment group. There was a significant improvement in functional constipation post-intervention in treatment group compared to control group (70% vs 20%, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is effective for treatment of bladder and bowel dysfunction in children and adolescents, particularly insofar as functional constipation is concerned.

Transarterial Embolization in the Management of Intractable Haemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term results of selective transarterial iliac embolization (STIE) in patients with intractable bladder haemorrhage (IBH). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with a median age of 84 (range 65-94) years underwent STIE because of IBH between 2002 and 2020. The median follow-up time was 3 (mean 13.9) months. Patients were treated because of bleeding bladder or prostate cancer, radiation-induced haemorrhagic cystitis, and other conditions. Success was defined as technical success (feasibility to embolize bilateral hypogastric arteries or neoplastic arteries) and as clinical success (absence of further or additional therapy). RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with a median age of 84 years with a median hospital stay of 7 days were embolized at our institution. In total, 60% required additional therapy. Only 20% had minor complications, but no complication major was seen; 60% needed an additional therapy because of continuous bleeding. Our 30-day, 90-day, 6-month, and 12-month mortality rates were 28, 44, 64, and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: STIE in IBH is a safe, well-tolerated, and feasible procedure for palliating haematuria patients in poor general condition. Major complications are very rarely seen. However, patients often need additional therapy after STIE.

Pessaries (mechanical devices) for managing pelvic organ prolapse in women.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common problem in women. About 40% of women will experience prolapse in their lifetime, with the proportion expected to rise in line with an ageing population. Women experience a variety of troublesome symptoms as a consequence of prolapse, including a feeling of 'something coming down' into the vagina, pain, urinary symptoms, bowel symptoms and sexual difficulties. Treatment for prolapse includes surgery, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and vaginal pessaries. Vaginal pessaries are passive mechanical devices designed to support the vagina and hold the prolapsed organs back in the anatomically correct position. The most commonly used pessaries are made from polyvinyl-chloride, polythene, silicone or latex. Pessaries are frequently used by clinicians with high numbers of clinicians offering a pessary as first-line treatment for prolapse.  This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2003 and last published in 2013. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of pessaries (mechanical devices) for managing pelvic organ prolapse in women; and summarise the principal findings of relevant economic evaluations of this intervention. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Specialised Register which contains trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings (searched 28 January 2020). We searched the reference lists of relevant articles and contacted the authors of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials which included a pessary for pelvic organ prolapse in at least one arm of the study. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed abstracts, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and carried out GRADE assessments with arbitration from a third review author if necessary. MAIN RESULTS: We included four studies involving a total of 478 women with various stages of prolapse, all of which took place in high-income countries. In one trial, only six of the 113 recruited women consented to random assignment to an intervention and no data are available for those six women. We could not perform any meta-analysis because each of the trials addressed a different comparison. None of the trials reported data about perceived resolution of prolapse symptoms or about psychological outcome measures. All studies reported data about perceived improvement of prolapse symptoms. Generally, the trials were at high risk of performance bias, due to lack of blinding, and low risk of selection bias. We downgraded the certainty of evidence for imprecision resulting from the low numbers of women participating in the trials. Pessary versus no treatment: at 12 months' follow-up, we are uncertain about the effect of pessaries compared with no treatment on perceived improvement of prolapse symptoms (mean difference (MD) in questionnaire scores -0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.61 to 0.55; 27 women; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence), and cure or improvement of sexual problems (MD -0.29, 95% CI -1.67 to 1.09; 27 women; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). In this comparison we did not find any evidence relating to prolapse-specific quality of life or to the number of women experiencing adverse events (abnormal vaginal bleeding or de novo voiding difficulty). Pessary versus pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT): at 12 months' follow-up, we are uncertain if there is a difference between pessaries and PFMT in terms of women's perceived improvement in prolapse symptoms (MD -9.60, 95% CI -22.53 to 3.33; 137 women; low-certainty evidence), prolapse-specific quality of life (MD -3.30, 95% CI -8.70 to 15.30; 1 study; 116 women; low-certainty evidence), or cure or improvement of sexual problems (MD -2.30, 95% -5.20 to 0.60; 1 study; 48 women; low-certainty evidence). Pessaries may result in a large increase in risk of adverse events compared with PFMT (RR 75.25, 95% CI 4.70 to 1205.45; 1 study; 97 women; low-certainty evidence). Adverse events included increased vaginal discharge, and/or increased urinary incontinence and/or erosion or irritation of the vaginal walls. Pessary plus PFMT versus PFMT alone: at 12 months' follow-up, pessary plus PFMT probably leads to more women perceiving improvement in their prolapse symptoms compared with PFMT alone (RR 2.15, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.94; 1 study; 260 women; moderate-certainty evidence). At 12 months' follow-up, pessary plus PFMT probably improves women's prolapse-specific quality of life compared with PFMT alone (median (interquartile range (IQR)) POPIQ score: pessary plus PFMT 0.3 (0 to 22.2); 132 women; PFMT only 8.9 (0 to 64.9); 128 women; P = 0.02; moderate-certainty evidence). Pessary plus PFMT may slightly increase the risk of abnormal vaginal bleeding compared with PFMT alone (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.69 to 6.91; 1 study; 260 women; low-certainty evidence). The evidence is uncertain if pessary plus PFMT has any effect on the risk of de novo voiding difficulty compared with PFMT alone (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.54 to 3.19; 1 study; 189 women; low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are uncertain if pessaries improve pelvic organ prolapse symptoms for women compared with no treatment or PFMT but pessaries in addition to PFMT probably improve women's pelvic organ prolapse symptoms and prolapse-specific quality of life. However, there may be an increased risk of adverse events with pessaries compared to PFMT. Future trials should recruit adequate numbers of women and measure clinically important outcomes such as prolapse specific quality of life and resolution of prolapse symptoms.   The review found two relevant economic evaluations. Of these, one assessed the cost-effectiveness of pessary treatment, expectant management and surgical procedures, and the other compared pessary treatment to PFMT.

Neonatal Bladder-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Bladder Dysfunction in Diabetic Rat Models.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a new mesenchymal stem cell type derived from the neonatal bladder (nMSC-B) on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: nMSC-B were harvested from neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rat's bladder and expanded in culture. nMSC-B were transferred to Type-1 diabetic rats which were induced by a single dose 45 mg/kg Streptozocin (STZ). Stem cells were transferred via intraperitoneally (IP) (DM-IP group, n:6) and by direct injection to the detrusor (DM-D group, n:6) at 12th week following diabetes and compared with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) injected diabetic rats (DM-PBS group, n:6) and age-matched PBS injected non-diabetic normal rats (NR-PBS group, n:6). All rats were evaluated histopathologically and functionally four weeks after the stem cell treatment. RESULTS: nMSC-B showed improvement in both voiding function and bladder structure. The maximum voiding pressure (MVP) values in the DM-PBS group were lower compare to DM-IP, DM-D and NR-PBS groups (13.27 ± 0.78 vs 16.27 ± 0.61, 28.59 ± 2.09, 21.54 ± 1.00, respectively, P < .001). There was a significant improvement for MVP values in stem cell-treated groups. Immunohistochemical examination revealed decreased bladder smooth muscle (SM), increased fibrosis and desquamation in urothelia in diabetic groups compared to normal group(P < .001). We detected recovery in the stem cell groups. This recovery was more evident in DM-D group.  No statistical difference was observed in SM and fibrosis between DM-D and NR-PBS groups (P = .9). CONCLUSION: It was shown that nMSCBs provided amelioration of DBD. We think that nMSC-B constitutes an effective treatment method in DBD.

Effect of amniotic fluid stem cell transplantation on the recovery of bladder dysfunction in spinal cord-injured rats.

The effects of human amniotic fluid stem cell (hAFSC) transplantation on bladder function and molecular changes in spinal cord-injured (SCI) rats were investigated. Four groups were studied: sham and SCI plus phosphate-buffered saline (SCI + PBS), human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells, and hAFSCs transplantation. In SCI + PBS rat bladders, cystometry showed increased peak voiding pressure, voiding volume, bladder capacity, residual volume, and number of non-voiding contractions, and the total elastin/collagen amount was increased but collagen concentration was decreased at days 7 and 28. Immunoreactivity and mRNA levels of IGF-1, TGF-ß1, and ß3-adrenoceptor were increased at days 7 and/or 28. M2 immunoreactivity and M3 mRNA levels of muscarinic receptor were increased at day 7. M2 immunoreactivity was increased, but M2/M3 mRNA and M3 immunoreactivity levels were decreased at day 28. Brain derived-neurotrophic factor mRNA was increased, but immunoreactivity was decreased at day 7. HEK293 cell transplantation caused no difference compared to SCI + PBS group. hAFSCs co-localized with neural cell markers and expressed BDNF, TGF-ß1, GFAP, and IL-6. The present results showed that SCI bladders released IGF-1 and TGF-ß1 to stimulate elastin and collagen for bladder wall remodelling, and hAFSC transplantation improved these changes, which involved the mechanisms of BDNF, muscarinic receptors, and ß3-adrenoceptor expression.

Introduction to sacral neuromodulation therapy for urinary bladder dysfunction using an InterStim system.

Sacral neuromodulation is an internationally endorsed therapy recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for patients who have refractory overactive bladder symptoms and/or idiopathic non-obstructive urinary retention when conservative treatments have failed or when patients have been unable to tolerate them. The Medtronic InterStim System used at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham received CE mark approval in 1995 for bladder indications. To date, over 300 000 patients worldwide have been treated, with 61-90% reporting satisfaction with treatment (Sutherland et al, 2007; Leong et al, 2011). It is a safe and effective intervention that can positively impact upon the management of both of these conditions, in particular overactive bladder. This highly prevalent condition is distressing to the individual and has an economic burden to society comparable in magnitude with that of breast cancer and osteoporosis (Hu and Wagner, 2005).

A simple and effective method for bladder blood clot evacuation using hydrogen peroxide.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary retention caused by bladder clots can be frustrating because such blood clots are difficult to remove. We established a novel technique in which hydrogen peroxide is applied to evacuate bladder clots. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, we evaluated 31 patients with retention of blood clots in the bladder who underwent emergency evacuation using hydrogen peroxide. RESULTS: The patients comprised 17 men and 14 women with mean age of 61.2 years (range, 42-82 years). Hydrogen peroxide solution and a 20-Fr three-cavity Foley catheter with large-diameter side holes were used for manual bladder irrigation in all patients. The bladder blood clots were successfully removed in 27 patients. The remaining four patients could not tolerate the symptoms of urinary retention and had to resort to surgery. CONCLUSION: Hydrogen peroxide solution for manual bladder irrigation can improve the efficiency of bladder blood clot evacuation. This is a simple and effective option for managing bladder clot retention.