Urethral Bulking Agents for Male Stress Incontinence
摘要
Urethral bulking agents are an established treatment for female stress urinary incontinence. There is a role for their use in mild to moderate incontinence in men having undergone prostate surgery. Its low-risk profile, ease of administration as a day case procedure, and early recovery for patients make it an attractive and minimally invasive option for male stress-related urinary leakage. The technique involves injecting biocompatible materials in the sub-urethral tissue to achieve lumen coaptation and, hence, increases the resistance to the outflow of urine. The factors determining the outcomes of urethral bulking include the etiology and severity of incontinence, the bulking agent of choice, its durability, and patient-related factors such as preexisting detrusor instability and history of radiotherapy. The efficacy of urethral bulking in men is modest with its effect diminishing over time. As a result, patients often require repeated treatments for desirable results. Treatments such as the artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) and slings show superior continence results in the long term; however, such procedures have a higher risk of complications and device-related troubleshooting. In this chapter, we shall elaborate on the history of urethral bulking, classification of bulking agents, and performance of the procedure and discuss the factors influencing the outcomes of urethral bulking for male stress urinary incontinence.