Who is suitable for intravesical botox?
How is intravesical botox performed?
What to expect after intravesical botox?
Intravesical botox is a procedure that is commonly used to treat urinary incontinence caused by overactive bladder. It is effective for patients with symptoms that are idiopathic (cause unknown) or neurogenic (caused by neurological conditions such as MS), where medical therapies are ineffective. It involves injecting a small amount of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the bladder wall.
Botulinum toxin works by temporarily reducing the ability of the bladder wall muscles to contract, thereby reducing the strong sensation to urinate (urgency) and the involuntary contractions that cause incontinence.
Doctors Shekib Shahbaz and Tony de Sousa at Melbourne Urology Centre are experienced in performing this procedure. They provide the highest standard of specialised urological care, and can discuss with you in detail whether or not this is a suitable treatment option for your condition.
Who is suitable for intravesical botox?
Intravesical botox may be an appropriate treatment option for patients that are suffering with the symptoms of an overactive bladder, including:
- Urinary frequency
- Nocturia (waking at night to urinate)
- Urinary urgency
- Urinary incontinence
How is intravesical botox performed?
- This procedure is performed under general anaesthetic
- A small camera (cystoscope) is inserted into to the bladder, via the urethra
- The bladder is filled with sterile water
- A small amount of botulinum toxin (botox) is injected into the bladder wall in 20-30 locations, through the cystoscope
- No skin incisions are necessary
What to expect after intravesical botox?
Generally, patients can go home within a few hours following their procedure. It typically takes around 2 weeks for the Botox to start working, so the effects are expected to be seen after this time.
The treatment is temporary, and the benefit usually lasts between 6-12 months. Repeat treatments would be expected to be effective without developing ‘tolerance’.
The risk of bleeding or recurrent urinary tract infection from this procedure is low.
Botox treatment is not effective for patients with ‘stress’ urinary incontinence that occurs when coughing and sneezing.
Whilst it is unlikely, there is a small risk of the Botox working ‘too well’, resulting in difficulty passing urine or incomplete emptying of the bladder. In rare cases where this occurs, you may require a temporary catheter or to pass a catheter into the urethra to empty it (this is known as intermittent self-catheterization).