Urethral Bulking Agents in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Aim. The article presents information on modern urethral bulking agents used in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Materials and methods. The authors reviewed the current scientifi c literature on the topic (original articles, monographs, meta-analyses), whose relevance lies in the increasing interest of both clinicians and patients in the minimally invasive treatment of SUI.Results. On the basis of available information on the use of urethral bulking agents, regulatory bodies prohibited the use of substances that did not meet the requirements of safety and effi cacy. Substances approved for clinical use are safe and show considerable effect, which makes them a suitable alternative to the surgical treatment of SUI.Conclusions. This kind of treatment is characterised by a low rate of serious complications and a suffi ciently high level of patients’ satisfaction with the results, despite its lower objective cure rate. Further research in this area involves a search for the “ideal” urethral bulking agent, as well as the use of cell technologies.

Keywords

• stress urinary incontinence
• urethral bulking agents
• surgical treatment
• minimally invasive treatment