Effectiveness of intravesical administration of lidocaine gel in females with urge and urge incontinence

: In a prospective study, 31 unselected patients with urge or urge incontinence, where previous treatment had been unsuccessful, were given repeated instillations of Lidocain gel for 11 days. Detailed histories were obtained by questionnaire both before instituting and after termination of the therapy. A cystourethrotonometric examination was also performed by the microtransducer method. The urge symptoms improved in almost all the patients. There was also a distinct improvement in subjective feelings of incontinence. There was a statistically significant reduction in mean micturition frequency. In 50% of the patients it was no longer possible to detect hypertonic bladder tone and pathologic detrusor contractions by cystourethrotonometry. Patients who had had lower bladder capacity prior to therapy showed a tendency to increased capacity after treatment. While there was no change in functional urethral length, there was a significant increase in maximum urethral closing pressure. Tonometrically detectable stress incontinence disappeared in one-fourth of the patients. No side effects were observed. In view of the high rate of success and the acceptance of intravesicular Lidocain therapy, it can also be recommended for cases resistant to therapy and, if necessary, can be included in an all-embracing therapeutic concept for urge incontinence.