Results of medications and bladder managements of vesicoureteral reflux in patients with a spinal cord lesion

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to study the outcome of medical treatments and methods used to treat vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in patients with spinal cord lesions. We retrospectively collected data from the outpatient records of 73 spinal cord lesion patients with VUR. The treatments for VUR were anticholinergics (89%) and antibiotics (41%). The methods of bladder management undertaken were indwelling urethral catheterization (67%), intermittent catheterization (30%), and use of a urinary condom (3%). After VUR treatment, 58.9% of the patients showed VUR improvement. Patients with unilateral VUR responded to treatment better than patient with bilateral VUR. However, no significant evidence of certain medications or bladder management was more effective than others at treating VUR in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Keywords

• spinal cord injury
• neurogenic bladder
• vesicoureteral reflux
• bladder management
• anticholinergic