SUI in postmenopausal women: advantages of an intraurethral + intravaginal Er:YAG laser

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of concomitant application of an intraurethral (IU) + intravaginal (IV) non-ablative Erbium (Er):YAG laser with IV application in improving the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

Methods

This observational retrospective cohort study included 122 patients with SUI, 60 women in the IU + IV laser arm and 62 in the IV laser arm. The primary outcome was the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Urinary Incontinence Short Form score at entry and at 3, 6 and 12 months from baseline.

Results

Demographic characteristics were comparable in both arms. Significant improvement in SUI symptoms was seen 3 months after the intervention and was sustained until the end of month 12 in both arms. The women who had severe SUI symptoms initially showed greater improvement. A higher number of women who initially had mild to moderate SUI symptoms were dry after treatment. Patients treated with IU + IV Er:YAG laser showed significant improvement in SUI symptoms compared to IV laser only, especially at postmenopausal state (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

The Er:YAG laser appears to be an efficient treatment method for SUI. Concomitant application of an IU + IV Er:YAG laser is more effective in relieving SUI symptoms at postmenopausal state.

摘要

目的: 比较尿道内(IU)+阴道内(IV)联合非消融性(Er): YAG激光与仅IV应用对改善女性压力性尿失禁(SUI)症状的疗效。

方法: 本观察性回顾性队列研究共纳入SUI患者122例, IU + IV激光手臂组60例, IV激光手臂组62例。主要结果是在入院时以及从基线开始的在3、6和12个月时进行国际尿失禁咨询委员会尿失禁问卷-尿失禁简表评分。

结果: 两组患者的人口统计学特征具有可比性。SUI症状在干预3个月后显著改善, 并持续到12个月末。最初有严重SUI症状的女性表现出更大的改善。最初有轻度至中度SUI症状的女性在治疗后感觉干燥的人数更多。接受IU + IV Er: YAG激光治疗的患者, 尤其是在绝经后阶段, 与仅接受IV激光治疗的患者相比, SUI症状有显著改善(p = 0.003)。

结论: Er: YAG激光是治疗SUI的一种有效方法。同时应用IU + IV Er: YAG光激光治疗绝经后尿失禁症状更有效。

Keywords:

• Stress urinary incontinence
• internal sphincter deficiency
• Er:YAG laser
• intraurethral application
• intravaginal application
• incontilase

Acknowledgements

None.

Potential conflict of interest 

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Source of funding 

Nil.