TRANSURETHRAL COLLAGEN THERAPY IN WOMEN

Purpose: We evaluated our recent experience with transurethral collage n therapy in women. Materials and Methods: A series of 44 women with v ideo urodynamic evidence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency were treate d with transurethral collagen therapy using local anesthesia. Median p atient age was 72 years (range 41 to 94). Mean duration of incontinenc e was 72 months. Incontinence was grade 3 in 42 patients. Mean abdomin al leak point pressure before treatment was 56 cm. water. Patient resp onse to treatment was evaluated by the change in the number of pads re quired to effect significant improvement. Results: Median number of pa ds used was 5 pretreatment (range 3 to 12) and 3 posttreatment. A tota l of 20 patients was cured and 8 others required only 1 pad daily afte r treatment (63% cured or needing no pads daily). Of the cured patient s 4 had used greater than 10 pads daily before collagen injection. One treatment was given to 22 patients and 7 have not improved of whom 2 underwent only 1 treatment. Mean volume of collagen used to effect a c ure was 9.1 cc. Conclusions: Collagen injection is a useful treatment for the severely incontinent female patient with intrinsic sphincter d eficiency.