Open Access
Current pharmacological and surgical treatment of underactive bladder
Author(s) -
YuanHong Jiang,
ChengLing Lee,
JiaFong Jhang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
tzu-chi medical journal/cí-jì yīxué
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.343
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2223-8956
pISSN - 1016-3190
DOI - 10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_122_17
Subject(s) - medicine , urology , neck of urinary bladder , detrusor muscle , urethra , urethral sphincter , transurethral resection of the prostate , prostate , urinary bladder , surgery , cancer
Underactive bladder (UAB) or detrusor underactivity (DU) is a common yet still poorly understood urological problem. In addition to true detrusor failure and neuropathy, the inhibitory effects of detrusor contraction by the striated urethral sphincter and the bladder neck through alpha-adrenergic activity may also play a role in the development of UAB or DU. Treatment of UAB or DU aims to reduce the postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume and increase voiding efficiency, either by spontaneous voiding or abdominal straining. Pharmacotherapy with parasympathomimetics or cholinesterase inhibitors might be tried, and benefits can be achieved in combination with alpha-blockers. Bladder outlet surgeries, including urethral onabotulinumtoxinA injection, transurethral incision of the bladder neck, and transurethral incision or resection of the prostate can effectively improve voiding efficiency and decrease the PVR in most patients with DU. The mechanisms have not been well elucidated. It is likely that ablation of the bladder neck or prostatic urethra might not only decrease bladder outlet resistance but also abolish the sympathetic hyperactivity which inhibits detrusor contractility in patients with idiopathic UAB or DU.