Da. Diamond et al., Initial experience with the transurethral self-detachable balloon system for urinary incontinence in pediatric patients, J UROL, 164(3), 2000, pp. 942-945
Purpose: A new endoscopic technique to treat urinary incontinence in childr
en using a self-detachable balloon device was studied.
Materials and Methods: The study includes 11 patients with a mean age of 14
.6 years and all of whom had intrinsic sphincter deficiency due to myelomen
ingocele in 9, spinal artery bleed in I and cloacal exstrophy in 1. Al pati
ents were on clean intermittent catheterization preoperatively and postoper
atively. Endoscopic balloon treatment was performed on an outpatient basis.
A mean of 5 balloons (range 2 to 8) were placed per patient. All patients
underwent formal urodynamic study preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 6 month
s following balloon placement.
Results: Of the 9 patients without prior bladder neck surgery 7 had improve
ment in urodynamic parameters, including urethral pressure profile in all 7
and functional bladder capacity in 6, 4 were markedly improved clinically
and 2 were dry. Two patients with prior bladder neck surgery were clinicall
y unchanged following balloon placement, although I had urodynamic improvem
ent.
Conclusions: Our initial experience with the transurethral self-detachable
balloon system as a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to treat urinar
y incontinence in children has been encouraging. To date this procedure app
ears most applicable to the patient who has not undergone surgery and has a
neurogenic etiology for urinary incontinence.