The subjective and objective benefits of a remote-controlled intraurethral device for managing the female acontractile bladder.

Abstract

To determine the subjective and objective benefits of the Inflow (SRS Medical Systems, N. Billerica, MA, USA) intraurethral device for managing acontractile bladders in women. Twenty women with acontractile bladders who had been managed unsuccessfully by the usual methods were recruited. All patients were asked to complete a quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire and were assessed with urine flowmetry and urine culture; to measure the postvoid residual urine (PVR) in the bladder, ultrasonography was used after activating the device. There was a decrease in the QoL score from a mean of 59.6 before insertion to means of 11.2, 8.8, 6.3 and 5.0 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months afterward. The mean (range) urinary flow rate was 10.7 (9-16) mL/s and the PVR 3 (0-17) mL. Three patients had temporary asymptomatic bacteriuria and two a single infection after the device was inserted that settled readily with antibiotics. This study shows that the Inflow device provides an effective method of bladder drainage, with few side-effects and a significant improvement in QoL.