Injections of bulking agents for urinary incontinence in women

Kirchin V, Page T, Keegan PE, Atiemo K, Cody JD, McClinton S

Published Online:

February 15, 2012

Stress incontinence is losing urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing or exercising. Usually muscles and tissue form a cushion supporting the base of the bladder and closing the urethra (the passage through which urine leaves the body). If they do not, artificial cushioning can be created by injecting bulking agents into the area around the urethra. The review of 14 trials, which included 2004 women, found some limited evidence that this can relieve stress incontinence in women. Other treatments such as surgery might be better. Using the women's own fat tissue as the agent injected can cause serious complications.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Periurethral or transurethral injection of bulking agents is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in adult women.

Objectives:

To assess the effects of periurethral or transurethral injection therapy on the cure or improvement of urinary incontinence in women.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (searched 8 November 2010) and the reference lists of relevant articles.

Selection criteria:

All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of treatment for urinary incontinence in which at least one management arm involved periurethral or transurethral injection therapy.

Data collection and analysis:

Two review authors independently assessed methodological quality of each study using explicit criteria. Data extraction was undertaken independently and clarification concerning possible unreported data sought directly from the investigators.

Main results:

Excluding duplicate reports, we identified 14 trials (excluding one that was subsequently withdrawn from publication and not included in this analysis) including 2004 women that met the inclusion criteria. The limited data available were not suitable for meta-analysis because they all came from separate trials. Trials were small and generally of moderate quality.

One trial of 45 women that compared injection therapy with conservative treatment showed early benefit for the injectable with respect to continence grade (risk ratio (RR) 0.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52 to 0.94) and quality of life (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.92). Another, comparing Injection of autologous fat with placebo, terminated early because of safety concerns. Two trials that compared injection with surgical management found significantly better objective cure in the surgical group (RR 4.77, 95% CI 1.96 to 11.64; and RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.79), although the latter trial data did not reach statistical significance if an intention-to-treat analysis was used.

Eight trials compared different agents and all results had wide confidence intervals. Silicone particles, calcium hydroxylapatite, ethylene vinyl alcohol, carbon spheres and dextranomer hyaluronic acid combination gave improvements which were not shown to be more or less efficacious than collagen. Dextranomer hyaluronic acid compound treated patients appeared to have significantly higher rates of injection site complications (16% with the hyaluronic acid compound versus none with collagen; RR 37.78, 95% CI 2.34 to 610) and this product has now been withdrawn from the market.

A comparison of periurethral and transurethral methods of injection found similar outcomes but a higher (though not statistically significant) rate of early complications in the periurethral group. One trial of 30 women showed a weak (but not clinically significant) advantage for patient satisfaction (data not suitable for analysis in Revman) after mid-urethral injection in comparison to bladder neck injection but with no demonstrable difference in continence levels.

Authors' conclusions:

The available evidence base remains insufficient to guide practice. In addition, the finding that placebo saline injection was followed by a similar symptomatic improvement to bulking agent injection raises questions about the mechanism of any beneficial effects. One small trial comparing silicone particles with pelvic floor muscle training was suggestive of benefit at three months but it is not known if this was sustained, and the treatment was associated with high levels of postoperative retention and dysuria. Greater symptomatic improvement was observed with surgical treatments, though the advantages need to be set against likely higher risks. No clear-cut conclusions could be drawn from trials comparing alternative agents, although dextranomer hyaluronic acid was associated with more local side effects and is no longer commercially available for this indication. There is insufficient evidence to show superiority of mid-urethral or bladder neck injection. The single trial of autologous fat provides a reminder that periurethral injections can occasionally cause serious side effects.

This record should be cited as:

Kirchin V, Page T, Keegan PE, Atiemo K, Cody JD, McClinton S. Urethral injection therapy for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003881. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003881.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

May 6, 2011

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Primary Review Group:

Incontinence Group

Health topics:

Gynaecology > Urinary incontinence > Surgery

Urology > Incontinence > Surgery

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Injections of bulking agents for urinary incontinence in women

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