One-year results with selective bladder denervation in women with refractory overactive bladder.

To report 1-year results with selective bladder denervation (SBD) of the trigone in women with refractory overactive bladder (OAB).

In this prospective, international, multicenter case series, women with refractory OAB underwent a single SBD treatment of the bladder subtrigone region using temperature-controlled radiofrequency. Patients were followed for 1 year and evaluated for changes in OAB symptoms and adverse events.

Among 35 women, 29 (83%) returned for 1-year follow up. Median symptom reductions based on 3-day bladder diaries were 68% for urgency urinary incontinence ( P < .001), 67% for urinary incontinence ( P < .001), 43% for urgency episodes ( P < .001), 5% for urinary frequency ( P = .19), and 33% for the total urgency and frequency score ( P < .001), with the majority of treatment benefit realized in the first month. Treatment benefit was reported in 72% of patients, the clinical success rate (≥50% reduction in urgency urinary incontinence) was 69%, and the dry rate was 10%. Statistically significant improvements occurred on Symptom Bother and Health-related Quality of Life scales on the Overactive Bladder questionnaire, and on 6 of 9 King's Health Questionnaire domains. Patients with less severe baseline symptoms had similar quality of life improvements as those with more severe baseline symptoms. Device- or procedure-related adverse events were reported in 6 (17%) patients.

A single treatment with selective bladder denervation is durable for 1-year in a significant proportion of women with refractory overactive bladder.

Neurourology and urodynamics. 2019 Jul 29 [Epub ahead of print]

Eric S Rovner, Eboo Versi, Tu Le Mai, Roger R Dmochowski, Stefan De Wachter

Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sherbrooke University Hospital, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada., Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee., Department of Urology, Antwerp University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.