A FOLLOW-UP ON TRANSURETHRAL COLLAGEN INJECTION THERAPY FOR URINARY-INCONTINENCE

Purpose: Transurethral collagen injection therapy has been used succes sfully in treating stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphinc ter deficiency since United States Food and Drug Administration approv al in October 1993, Materials and Methods: Telephone interview and cha rt review were performed on 139 women with intrinsic sphincter deficie ncy documented using video urodynamics, of whom 73% had grade 3 incont inence (leakage without effort). Median followup was 18 months (range 6 to 36). Median patient age was 72 years. Results: A total of 103 pat ients (74%) was substantially improved after collagen therapy, 29 (20% ) were improved and 7 had no improvement. Of the substantially improve d group 72% obtained continence after 2 or fewer injections. Of the pa tients 11% required a ''booster Injection more than 6 months after ini tial treatment. Complications, such as hematuria, urinary tract infect ions or transient urinary retention, were rare. Conclusions: Our resul ts confirm the safety and efficacy of transurethral collagen. Once con tinence is achieved further collagen therapy is rarely necessary.