Biofeedback in treatment of urinary incontinence in stroke patients

Urinary incontinence can occur poststroke owing to weakness or incoordination of sphincter muscles, impaired bladder sensation, or hyperreflexic, neurogenic bladder. Four male subjects who had urinary incontinence associated with a stroke that had occurred 8 months to 10 years earlier, and who averaged 1.6 to 7.5 accidental voidings per week, participated in an outpatient study with a 4-week scheduled-voiding baseline, 2 to 5 sessions of biofeedback-assisted bladder retraining, and 6- to 12-month follow-up. Training sessions included stepwise filling of the bladder and manometric feedback display of bladder pressure, abdominal pressure, and external anal sphincter pressure. Training procedures were designed to teach subjects to attend to bladder sensations, inhibit bladder contractions, and improve voluntary sphincter muscle control. All four subjects achieved and maintained continence regardless of substantial differences in subject characteristics, including laterality of stroke, degree of sensory impairment, and independence in daily activities.     

Behavioural treatment of urinary incontinence in geriatric patients.

Urinary incontinence and a program to treat it were studied in a geriatric hospital. Of 161 men, 58 (36%) were incontinent. The most common probable causes were cerebrovascular accident and organic brain syndrome. Evaluation by cystometry (after treatment of infections) in 30 patients showed 24 (80%) to have detrusor hyperreflexia. Twenty patients with hyperreflexia completed a timed-voiding routine, which benefited 17 of them (85%).     

Biofeedback for the treatment of anal incontinence in a child with ureterosigmoidostomy

The case of a 7-year-old boy born with exstrophy of the bladder is presented. Biofeedback and behavioral therapy were employed in the treatment of anal incontinence, which occurred following ureterosigmoidostomy diversion. After 19 treatment and follow-up sessions over a period of 12 months, there was significant decrease in fecal/urinary incontinence. The patient was soiled 29% of waking hours over the first 4 weeks of treatment. This figure dropped to 9.7% over the last three sessions. Subjective satisfaction of parent, child, and teachers was high. These gains were maintained over a 12-month follow-up period. Given the design of the present study, it is not possible to determine whether the biofeedback per se had a specific treatment effect. The case demonstrates the usefulness of a broad-based behavior therapy in the management of fecal/urine soiling, which is a frequent, refractory complication of ureterosigmoidostomy.     

Biofeedback for the treatment of anal incontinence in a child with ureterosigmoidostomy

The case of a 7-year-old boy born with exstrophy of the bladder is presented. Biofeedback and behavioral therapy were employed in the treatment of anal incontinence, which occurred following ureterosigmoidostomy diversion. After 19 treatment and follow-up sessions over a period of 12 months, there was significant decrease in fecal/urinary incontinence. The patient was soiled 29% of waking hours over the first 4 weeks of treatment. This figure dropped to 9.7% over the last three sessions. Subjective satisfaction of parent, child, and teachers was high. These gains were maintained over a 12-month follow-up period. Given the design of the present study, it is not possible to determine whether the biofeedback per se had a specific treatment effect. The case demonstrates the usefulness of a broad-based behavior therapy in the management of fecal/urine soiling, which is a frequent, refractory complication of ureterosigmoidostomy.     

Future trends in the treatment of urinary incontinence

Anticholinergic drugs act on efferent nerves to counteract overactive bladder (OAB) after it occurs. To prevent the occurrence of OAB, therapies should be directed at blocking the afferent nerves that control the bladder. Tachykinin-receptor antagonists hold great promise in this regard, since they can be administered orally and do not increase the risk of urinary retention that occurs with anticholinergics. Advanced drug delivery systems, such as controlled-release oral oxybutynin (oxybutynin-XL) can reduce the incidence of anticholinergic side effects. In a similar manner intravesical therapy for OAB is site specific, and thus also reduces the occurrence of adverse events. Moreover, the difficulties of intravesical therapy may now be overcome with advanced delivery techniques such as an implantable, long-acting drug-delivery pump. Another intravesical therapy that has met with great acceptance and success is the administration of chili pepper extracts, especially resiniferitoxin, which may be effective for up to 3 months with one application. Finally, gene therapy holds great promise for OAB, because it is possible to access all of the genitourinary organs via endoscopy and other minimally invasive techniques that are ideally suited for gene therapy.     

Potential targets in the treatment of urinary incontinence

Urgency and involuntary urine loss are distressing problems for both men and women. Attempts to block the primary cholinergic excitatory input to the bladder have led to a number of anticholinergic agents, but treatment with anticholinergics, the current first-line therapy, is not always effective. Metabolic and growth factor receptor targets are being investigated as a way to control the signal transduction process that leads to bladder contraction as well as the release of calcium that triggers this process. Because of the redundancy in mechanisms that promote bladder contraction, it is necessary to investigate multiple targets. Medical research is also focusing on purinergic receptors, the targeting of normally silent C-fibers that become activated due to neuroplasticity in the bladder, nerve-growth-factor blockade, and the blockade of neurotransmitters that control the bladder. Moreover, a strong correlation appears to exist between depression and the occurrence of incontinence, and there is evidence that points to a genetic link. However, the problem, with attacking this multiplicity of sites lies in establishing therapeutic efficacy and a high degree of specificity.     

Medical and minimally invasive treatment of urinary incontinence

Newer agents and procedures give urologists more options in treating patients who have urinary incontinence related to such etiologies as an ineffective sphincter, detrusor hypersensitivity, obstruction, or a combination of these. Abolition of the involuntary contractions characteristic of detrusor instability can be accomplished pharmacologically or surgically. First-line anticholinergic agents are tolterodine and oxybutynin XL, given orally. Alternatively, intravesical administration provides a high concentration of drug, such as capsaicin or resiniferatoxin, at the detrusor muscle level. However, this commits the patient to intermittent self-catheterization. Surgery is reserved for those who have failed prolonged trials of conservative therapies. For patients with intractable urge incontinence, urologists have the new technique of sacral nerve stimulation.     

Urodynamic biofeedback treatment of urinary incontinence in children with myelomeningocele

Eight children with myelomeningocele and chronic neurogenic urinary incontinence were provided urodynamic biofeedback training. During urodynamic biofeedback, six of the eight children demonstrated improved self-regulation of detrusor and/or sphincter functioning. However, substantial improvements in clinical symptomatology (i.e., urinary incontinence) were clearly shown by only one child. Unexpectedly, chronic neurogenic fecal incontinence was reduced in four children. Several methodological modifications are discussed which may improve clinical symptomatology and which may facilitate further urodynamic biofeedback research for these children with congenital neurogenic urinary incontinence.This work was supported by a grant from The Crippled Children's Guild through the Behavioral Pediatrics Program at Orthopaedic Hospital.     

Urodynamic biofeedback treatment of urinary incontinence in children with myelomeningocele

Eight children with myelomeningocele and chronic neurogenic urinary incontinence were provided urodynamic biofeedback training. During urodynamic biofeedback, six of the eight children demonstrated improved self-regulation of detrusor and/or sphincter functioning. However, substantial improvements in clinical symptomatology (i.e., urinary incontinence) were clearly shown by only one child. Unexpectedly, chronic neurogenic fecal incontinence was reduced in four children. Several methodological modifications are discussed which may improve clinical symptomatology and which may facilitate further urodynamic biofeedback research for these children with congenital neurogenic urinary incontinence.     

Adipose-derived stromal cell transplantation for treatment of stress urinary incontinence

We aimed to investigate the application of adipose-derived stromal cells in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Animal models of stress urinary incontinence were established with Sprague-Dawley female rats by complete cutting of the pudendal nerve. Rat adipose-derived stromal cells were isolated, cultured and successfully transplanted into animal models. Effects of stem cell transplantation were evaluated through urodynamic testing and morphologic changes of the urethra and surrounding tissues before and after transplantation. Main urodynamic outcome measures were measured. Intra-bladder pressure and leak point pressure were measured during filling phase. Morphologic examinations were performed. Transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells significantly strengthened local urethral muscle layers and significantly improved the morphology and function of sphincters. Urodynamic testing showed significant improvements in maximum bladder capacity, abdominal leak point pressure, maximum urethral closure pressure, and functional urethral length. Morphologic changes and significant improvement in urination control were consistent over time. It was concluded that periurethral injection of adipose-derived stromal cells improves function of the striated urethral sphincter, resulting in therapeutic effects on SUI. Reconstruction of the pelvic floor through transplantation of adipose-derived cells is a minimally invasive and effective treatment for SUI.     

Biofeedback treatment of dysmenorrhea

Nine dysmenorrheic women were run in EMG and thermal biofeedback procedures with concurrent autogenic relaxation practice. Significant reductions in subjective estimates of symptomology associated with dysmenorrhea were noted in all subjects. EMG levels correlated positively with the reductions in symptoms. Thermal levels did not correlate with EMG. In fact no consistent patterns in thermal measures were noted. However, thermal biofeedback cannot be ruled out as an effective treatment for dysmenorrhea since reductions in symptoms occurred during thermal biofeedback training. Another significant aspect of the present study is the effectiveness of long treatment procedures. A six month period was employed and significant reductions in symptoms were noted following two months of biofeedback treatment. Finally, the importance of beginning biofeedback treatment prior to onset of menstrual symptoms is indicated.