Is Cystoscopic Intravesical Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA Acceptable in an Outpatient Clinic?

Abstract

Purpose: Cystoscopic intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for refractory overactive bladder. While the procedure can be performed in outpatient clinics under local anesthetic, some clinicians still use sedation or general anesthesia in an operating theatre. Our study aimed to assess acceptability of intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection versus widely accepted diagnostic cystoscopy in the outpatient setting via the medium of patient experience.

Methods: A 16-item patient experience survey was administered following diagnostic cystoscopy or intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection in an outpatient clinic. Both procedures were performed using a flexible cystoscope with local anesthetic gel. A visual analogue scale (VAS) assessed intraprocedure pain. Dichotomous questions assessed whether significant pain or postprocedure symptoms were experienced and if these required medical attention. A free-text question assessed which symptoms had occurred.

Results: One hundred responses from 188 patients were received (53.2% response rate). Sixty-eight patients underwent cystoscopic intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection and 32 diagnostic cystoscopy. Mean VAS scores were higher for onabotulinumtoxinA injection (24 of 100) than diagnostic cystoscopy (11 of 100) (P=0.002). VAS scores were higher among patients reporting preprocedure anxiety (31 of 100 vs. 14 of 100, P=0.0013). Twenty-four percent of onabotulinumtoxinA injection patients experienced symptoms postprocedure versus 41% for cystoscopy. Medical attention was sought more frequently in the diagnostic cystoscopy group (9.4% vs. 1.5%). Common symptoms following both procedures were dysuria, urinary frequency, urgency, abdominal pain and urine discoloration.

Conclusion: Cystoscopic intravesical injection of onabotulinumtoxinA appears more painful than diagnostic cystoscopy. However, as VAS scores were relatively low, this is unlikely to represent clinically significant discomfort burdensome to the patient. There were no significant complications postprocedure. Cystoscopic intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection is acceptable in an outpatient setting.