Objective: After radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer patients may have difficulty in urination due to detrusor underactivity and a non-relaxing urethral sphincter. This study evaluated the effectiveness of urethral injection of botulinum A toxin in treating voiding dysfunction in these patients. Methods: Thirty patients with difficult urination after radical hysterectomy due to cervical cancer were enrolled to receive urethral injection of 100 units of botulinum A toxin (n = 20) or medical treatment as controls (n = 10). The clinical results and urodynamic parameters at baseline and after treatment were compared in the study group, and the quality of life (QOL) index was compared between the study and control groups. Results: After urethral injection of botulinum A toxin, 8 patients had excellent results (40%) and 8 had improved results (40%) in the study group. Both voiding pressure (115.2 ± 63.7 vs. 90.2 ± 49.5 ml, p = 0.025) and post-void residual volume (330.9 ± 124.9 vs. 183.9 ± 183.4 ml, p = 0.011) improved significantly after treatment. The obstructive symptom score was significantly reduced (17.5 ± 4.7 vs. 5.7 ± 2.3 points, p = 0.000) and the QOL index also improved (4.5 ± 2.7 vs. 2.3 ± 2.3 points, p = 0.000) after treatment. The success rate was 80% in the study group. There were no significant changes in obstructive symptom scores or the QOL index in the control group. The maximal effect appeared about 1 week after treatment. The duration of the therapeutic effect ranged from 3 to 9 months. Mild stress urinary incontinence and nocturnal enuresis were noted in 7 patients (35%). Conclusion: Urethral injection of botulinum A toxin can be effectively used to treat patients with detrusor underactivity and non-relaxing urethral sphincter after radical hysterectomy with few adverse effects.

Keywords:
Botulinum toxin, Cervical cancer, Detrusor areflexia, Hysterectomy
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© 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel
2005
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