Division of the external sphincter in the treatment of the neurogenic bladder. A ten-year review

“…In the 1940s and early 1950s Emmett 3,4 and others 5 carried out transurethral bladder neck resections in patients with spinal cord injuries and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). While the obstruction was relieved in some cases, in most the results were disappointing ± the obstruction persisted.…”

Section: History Of Sphincterotomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sphincterotomy and the treatment of detrusor–sphincter dyssynergia: current status, future prospects

et al. 2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Study design: Literature review of current treatment options for detrusor ± sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) in spinal cord injury. Objectives: To review the outcomes and complications associated with external sphincterotomy and to summarise the results and complications of alternative treatment options for detrusor ± sphincter dyssynergia in spinal cord injury. In addition, we propose a potential alternative future drug treatment for external sphincter dyssynergia based upon recent research on the neuropharmacology of the external urethral sphincter. Setting: The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK. Methods: Medline search from 1966 to 2002 using the words`external sphincterotomy', detrusor ± sphincter dyssynergia' and`neurogenic bladder combined with surgery'. Results: While external sphincterotomy is an eective treatment for DSD, a signi®cant number of men following this procedure continue to have high intrarenal pressures, recurrent urinary infection or troublesome autonomic dysre¯exia and a worryingly high proportion demonstrate persistently raised leak point pressures, putting them at subsequent risk of renal damage. Alternative treatments for external sphincter dyssynergia include urethral stents and balloon dilatation, both of which are eective. However, over the long term stents can undergo encrustation and there remains a de®nite risk of stent migration necessitating stent removal or replacement. Balloon dilatation of the external sphincter is associated with a risk of subsequent stricture formation. Intraurethral Botulinum A toxin seems to be eective though there have been no large randomised studies comparing it against placebo. However, it is not a durable treatment option and it has not found a common place in the treatment of DSD. There is now a considerable amount of experimental data from both animal and human studies to suggest that nitric oxide (NO) is an important physiological inhibitory neurotransmitter in the urethral sphincter, mediating relaxation of the external urethral sphincter. The potential role of sphincter NO augmentation for treatment of DSD is discussed. Conclusion: External sphincterotomy remains the mainstay of treatment for urodynamically signi®cant detrusor ± sphincter dyssynergia, but in recent years a number of eective, alternative treatment options have become available. While at present there is no eective systemic drug treatment, recent research into external sphincter neuropharmacology suggests that systemic or topical augmentation of external sphincter NO may provide an eective method for lowering sphincter pressure.

show abstract

“…Our management of these problems has evolved over a period of 37 years since 1947, during which time diagnosis and treatment has depended on close liaison between the staff of the Regional Urological Centre and the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre (Abel et al, 1974;Gibbon et al, 1965;Ross, 1976;Ross and Damanski, 1953;Ross et al, 1957Ross et al, , 1964Ross et al, , 1967. Over 1100 patients have been treated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%