Angelo E. Gousse

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate management strategies for female urinary incontinence, specifically stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and anterior vaginal prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse, POP), emphasizing diagnostic methods, treatment options, and factors influencing surgical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a thorough literature review examining diagnostic tools, including physical examinations, urodynamic testing, and pessary evaluations, alongside treatment options for SUI and POP. Both surgical interventions, such as mid-urethral sling placement and anterior colporrhaphy, and non-surgical methods, including pelvic floor exercises, were analyzed. This review assesses these approaches’ efficacy, complications, and outcomes, incorporating current clinical guidelines and evidence-based practices. Results: Evidence indicates that SUI frequently coexists with POP, with a notable proportion of cases being occult until a prolapse is reduced. Diagnostic methods such as pessary testing and urodynamic evaluations are essential in identifying masked SUI, though their predictive accuracy varies. Surgical techniques such as using mid-urethral slings are highly effective but pose risks, including voiding dysfunction and lower urinary tract injury. Long-term data emphasize the need for personalized treatment strategies, with combined procedures showing superior outcomes for the concurrent management of POP and SUI in select cases. Conclusions: Effective management of SUI and POP requires a personalized approach, factoring in the severity of a prolapse and the likelihood of postoperative incontinence. While conservative treatments are practical initial options, surgical solutions, such as mid-urethral slings and apical suspension procedures, offer robust, lasting results for advanced cases. Preoperative diagnostics, collaborative decision-making, and tailored treatment plans are essential to optimize success and minimize complications. Future research should prioritize enhancing diagnostic precision and refining surgical methods to further advance patient care.

Objectives: This randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, phase IV study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of onabotulinumtoxinA in patients with overactive bladder. Methods: Patients were randomized 1:1 to onabotulinumtoxinA 100 U or placebo. Assessments over 12 weeks included: change from baseline in urinary incontinence (UI) episodes/day; proportions of patients who achieved 100% and 50% or greater reductions in UI episodes/day; proportion of patients using no incontinence pads in the previous 24 hours; and changes from baseline in micturition frequency, nocturia, urgency UI, Incontinence-Quality of Life, King’s Health Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—UI Short Form scores and time to request retreatment. Results: Significant reductions in UI episodes/day were seen with onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo within week 1 posttreatment (−2.9 vs −2.0, P = 0.005) through week 12 (coprimary endpoint: −3.5 vs −1.6, P < 0.001). Significantly more onabotulinumtoxinA-treated patients achieved 100% (coprimary endpoint) and 50% or greater reductions in UI episodes/day. Decreases in other urinary symptoms were also seen within 1 week with onabotulinumtoxinA that continued through at least week 12. More onabotulinumtoxinA-treated versus placebo-treated patients required no incontinence pads at weeks 1 to 12, and greater improvements in quality of life measurements were seen. Time to request retreatment was significantly longer with onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo (30.0 weeks vs 13.1 weeks; P < 0.001). No unexpected safety signals were observed. Urinary tract infection was the most commonly observed adverse event. Conclusions: Urinary symptom and quality of life improvements were observed with onabotulinumtoxinA within 1 week of treatment and were sustained for at least 12 weeks.

Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is the involuntary loss of urine associated with the sensation of urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing, or coughing. The underlying cause of MUI is poorly understood. Without clearly understanding the pathophysiological and anatomical changes associated with MUI, treatment is often misdirected. This review presents an analysis of the most recent studies and pathophysiological mechanisms thought to be associated with MUI-related voiding dysfunction. A suggested algorithm is provided for the workup of these women with a review of medical and surgical treatment options used to treat MUI.

With diabetes mellitus (DM) reaching epidemic proportions, the identification of voiding dysfunction as a common and burdensome complication of this disease is critical. Research into diabetic voiding dysfunction significantly lags behind other complications of DM, such as retinopathy and nephropathy. Recent studies have revealed that DM predisposes patients to a wide range of lower urinary tract dysfunction, from the classic diabetic cystopathy of incomplete emptying to urgency incontinence. In this review, we discuss the current concepts of diabetic voiding dysfunction with a critical analysis of the available evidence.

Overactive bladder syndrome continues to be a significant burden for the general population. Current first-line medical therapy often includes antimuscarinic medications designed for overactive bladder. Poor efficacy and significant side effects of these antimuscarinic medications have left patients and physicians looking for alternative treatments. There is increasing evidence that intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin A can effectively treat these patients. We present a current and extensive review of the literature covering the use of botulinum toxin A in patients with overactive bladder with or without idiopathic detrusor overactivity.