The Efficacy of Polyacrylamide Hydrogel (Bulkamid) Transurethral Injection System: The Outcome of Short-term Follow-up of 100 Cases.

Abstract

Objectives: The injection of transurethral bulking agents is an office procedure that has been used as a primary and secondary treatment to improve urethral coaptation and restore urinary continence. The treatment has been available in the US since January 2020. In this study, we aim to present our experience with the efficacy of Bulkamid transurethral injection as a primary and secondary treatment among women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study that was performed on 100 patients who received Bulkamid as primary or secondary treatment. The data were collected by reviewing medical records. The procedure was performed in the office with the injection of local anesthesia. The patients were followed up approximately 30 days after the procedure and the efficacy of Bulkamid injection was evaluated.

Results: One hundred patients were evaluated upon returning to the office. The mean age of patients was 62 years, and the mean body mass index was 29. Forty-eight patients have received Bulkamid treatment for stress incontinence as a primary procedure and 49 as a salvage procedure. The mean satisfaction reported by the patients was 53.7% for the primary group and 69.69% for the secondary group, with a P = 0.0187 which is statistically different. There are no complications reported in the follow-up.

Conclusion: Bulkamid transurethral injection appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for women with primary and secondary SUI. There is a trend toward higher short-term satisfaction in patients with previous anti-incontinence procedures.