PROLONGED BLADDER DISTENSION - EXPERIENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF DETRUSOR OVERACTIVITY AND INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS

Prolonged bladder distension continues to be recommended for the treat ment of detrusor instability and other bladder conditions. We have rev iewed our experience of the technique. A total of 45 patients have und ergone 50 procedures. Only 1 of 29 patients with detrusor instability had sustained improvement. 6 of 7 patients with interstitial cystitis noted improvement, sustained in 3. All the other patients noted some i mprovement. There was a 20% complication rate. 33 (75%) of the living patients returned questionnaires with 27% feeling that the operation w as worthwhile. We feel that prolonged distension of the bladder is unh elpful in the treatment of patients with detrusor instability. Its pla ce in the management of patients with interstitial cystitis and irrita tive symptoms remains controversial. The place of simple bladder diste nsion should be considered.