Injection of medication into the bladder muscle
Brief info on injection of medication into the bladder muscle
Indication | Urge incontinence |
Procedure | Medical paralysis of the bladder muscle |
Surgery time | Approx. 15 minutes |
Clinic stay | 1-2 days |
Note | General anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia |
Using cystoscopy, medication causing muscle relaxation is injected into the bladder muscle. This inhibits involuntary contractions in the bladder, which causes urge incontinence. The procedure is done when medication taken in other forms is unsuccessful. The medication is approved for various forms of incontinence, including overactive bladder or bladder overactivity for neurological reasons.
During a cystoscopy, the medication is injected into different areas in the bladder muscle using a thin needle. The procedure only takes a short time.
In addition to the general risks of any surgical procedure, such as bleeding, inflammation, and disruptions to wound healing, there are further risks unique to this procedure. For example, it is possible that the treatment does not achieve the desired result. In rare cases, the effect may be excessive and lead to residual urine formation or even urinary retention. In this case, a catheter must be inserted temporarily. All possible risks of the surgical intervention are discussed in a detailed explanatory discussion with the patient before the procedure.
Admission for surgery takes place on the same day as the procedure. After the operation, inpatient treatment is recommended for 1-2 nights, during which time urine is drained by means of a bladder catheter. The medication normally takes 1-2 weeks to fully achieve its effects. After this time, another ultrasound check is necessary to determine the amount of residual urine.
The procedure is successful in helping most patients. The medication has a limited duration and lasts a few months. Therefore, any side effects of the procedure are not permanent. Regular interventions are naturally necessary to maintain continence. Since the procedure is short and complications are rare, this is unproblematic.
About this page:
Author
Medical director of the Goldstadt-Privatklinik.
Specialist for Urology, Mini-PCNL and robot-assisted da Vinci procedures.
Member in Scientific Societies and Reviewer of scientific journals.