Surgical Treatment of Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis

Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis is a disabling disease of the urinary bladder that mainly affects women. It is of unknown etiology and can appear in all age groups. The main symptoms – bladder pain and urinary frequency – may completely govern the life of the unlucky person suffering from the disease. Treatment includes diet, behavioral modifications, medical treatments, inclusive specific-pain treatment and surgery, but it is unfortunately often insufficient. The disease is rare and lacks a specific definition as well as proper diagnostic criteria. Surgical treatments include neuromodulation, transurethral surgery, bladder augmentation and urinary diversion with or without cystectomy. This article examines the documentation, or lack of, for the often drastic surgical procedures performed to improve quality of life in patients with this disorder.