Effect of Urethral Dilatation on Women With Voiding Dysfunction

Despite a lack of evidence for its efficacy in the literature, urethral dilatation (UD) has been used by urologists and urogynecologists for many years to treat a variety of lower urinary tract symptoms in women. Recent surveys of clinical practice suggest that a significant proportion of clinicians continue to perform UD, with it being more commonly used by those trained more than 10 years ago. Recent outcome data on UD in women with overactive bladder and voiding dysfunction have shown poor long-term efficacy, with a 13% risk of de novo urodynamic stress incontinence. Resolution of symptoms is associated with a postprocedure increase in maximum flow rate and a decrease in detrusor pressure at maximum flow. Further studies are needed to delineate the role, if any, of UD in the management of women with overactive bladder and voiding dysfunction. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.