Fifty consecutive female patients with genuine urinary stress incontinence were randomized either to surgery or to a pelvic floor training program. The operative procedure was chosen according to the type of bladder suspension defect on micturition cystourethrography. The training program was given 5 times in weekly lessons and the patients were guided by trained physiotherapists. Surgery was superior to the pelvic floor training program both subjectively and objectively. However, a significant improvement was found following the training program. Forty-two percent were satisfied with the outcome of the training and did not want operation. We find physiotherapist-guided pelvic floor exercise a realistic alternative to surgery in patients with mild degrees of stress incontinence. Also patients with residual symptoms after surgery are candidates for pelvic floor training.

In a randomized trial, the Bardex Urinary Drainage System was tested against a routine system consisting of a silicone-coated 16F Latex Foley catheter and exchangeable 1 500 ml collecting bags. The Bardex system consists of an all-silicone balloon catheter preconnected and sealed to the drainage tube with tape. The tube is united with a 2,000 ml collecting bag via a vented drip chamber. It has an extremely hydrophilic coating (BN-74) resembling the natural glycosaminoglycans lining the urothelium. This coating is intended to minimize urethral irritation and bacterial migration and also to cause slow release of water-soluble antiseptics applied to the surface. In the present study, isobetadine 10% was applied prior to the insertion and reapplied daily after pulling gently on the catheter. Forty female patients aged 31 to 85 years completed the study. In the Bardex group of patients, bacteriuria developed in none by the third day of catheterization and in 5% by the fourth day. In the Foley group, the bacteriuria rate was significantly higher, with 35% on the third day (p less than 0.01) and 45% on the fourth day (p less than 0.02). No difference between the two drainage systems was found concerning incontinence beside the catheter, urethral pain or burning, meatal reddishness or urethral discharge. No conclusion regarding the advantages or disadvantages of the BN-74 coating and the isobetadine application can be drawn from the present study.