Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS): A Practical Guide

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a prevalent and pervasive disease. The physical and psychological sequelae can be very burdensome for the patient, and the condition represents a real challenge for the clinician as well. With no simple pathognomonic test, finding harmony in navigating patient care can be demanding. Diagnosis and management rely upon a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. Treatment options include conservative measures and pharmacotherapies as well as bladder instillation therapies. Ultimately, surgery may be offered but only in cases of refractory disease. This article offers a pragmatic guide for clinicians managing this challenging disease.

Bladder instillation for urinary tract infection prevention in neurogenic bladder patients practicing clean intermittent catheterization: A systematic review

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of different modalities of bladder instillation in patients with neurogenic bladder practicing intermittent catheterization. Methods: A systematic review of the literature were conducted using two databases: Medline via PubMed and Scopus. Articles evaluating bladder instillation in patients with neurogenic bladder, who are practicing intermittent catheterization, were collected and assessed for the efficacy and safety of the studied agent by two different reviewers. Results: Among the 1896 studies, eight involving 346 patients with neurogenic bladder, were included in this systematic review according to the PRISMA protocols. Gentamicin, Hyaluronic acid, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus was found to decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections, the former reduced multidrug-resistant organisms. Kanamycin-colistin, showed a drop in the mean incidence of bacteriuria in males only. Trisdine, the only studied antiseptic, significantly reduced bacteriuria. Neomycin, however, showed no efficacy in term of bacteriuria. Regarding safety, when evaluated, no major adverse events were reported with any of the studied modalities. Conclusion: Bladder instillations of either antibiotics, antiseptics, hyaluronic acid, or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG are efficient and safe in patients having neurogenic bladder, with recurrent urinary tract infections and practicing clean intermittent catheterization, with gentamicin being the most recommended product among the different studied agents.

Is Saddle block superior to spinal anaesthesia for patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate- a comparative evaluation

Background: TURP is the most common surgical intervention for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Aims and Objectives: This prospective randomized study was planned to evaluate spinal anaesthesia (SA) versus saddle block with regard to haemodynamic parameters, ephedrine consumption, patient and surgeon satisfaction, perioperative complications in patients undergoing TURP. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients between the ages of 50-80 years with BPH, belonging to ASA grade I- III, prostatic volume between 50 - 80 cc were included in our study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 40 patients each. Patients in group SA (n=40) received spinal anaesthesia and the patients in group SBBI (n=40) were given saddle block with bladder instillation of local anaesthetic jelly for undergoing TURP. Results: There was more statistically significant fall in MAP in Group SA as compared to Group SBBI (p<0.05). Complications like hypotension, bradycardia and vasopressor requirement was less but requirement (p=0.021) of supplemental analgesia was more in patients who were administered saddle block. There was significantly lower patient satisfaction in saddle block (p=0.044) but comparable surgical satisfaction in both groups. Conclusion: Both Spinal anaesthesia and saddle block are safe and effective techniques of anaesthesia for patients undergoing TURP. SA has advantages like less requirement of supplemental analgesia, longer duration of post-operative analgesia and more patient satisfaction. However, saddle block is superior to spinal anaesthesia with regard to haemodynamic stability; with less chances of hypotension, bradycardia and less vasopressor requirement. It is similar to SA in terms of providing adequate surgical conditions.

On the issue of subcutaneous use of pilocarpine in postoperative urinary retention

Postoperative, as well as postpartum ischuria is a very unpleasant complication, since all commonly used means are heat to the bladder, instillation of 10% boric glycerin into the bladder (Corbineau method), liq. kalii acetici per os, injections of 1.0-2.0 25% magnesiae sulfur, under the skin (Voytashevsky method), intravenous injections of 5.0-10.0 40% urotropin (according to V o g t'y) - often give refusal or induce urination after many hours and thus force the use of a catheter. As for catheterization, this method is recognized as fraught with complications and should be used, according to Dieterichs, only as an ultimum refugium.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on stress levels of urologic patients

Introduction Several studies have shown the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on perceived stress of different populations, but none of them analyzed urological patients who underwent elective surgery. Methods We enrolled prospectively patients who underwent elective surgery between March and October 2020. A survey on COVID-19 and the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PPS-4) questionnaire were administered at hospital admission. Demographic and medical history data were also collected. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of higher PSS-4 values (≥7). Results A total of 200 patients were enrolled. Mean PSS-4 value resulted 6.04. Patients with PSS-4 value ≥7 resulted 43.5% (87/200). In multivariate analysis, PSS-4 value ≥7 was independently associated (p < 0.05) with female gender (OR 6.42), oncological disease (OR 2.87), high (>5 in a range between 0 and 10) fear of intrahospital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 4.75), history of bladder instillation (OR 0.26), and current smokers (OR 0.27) Conclusion High PSS-4 values at hospital admission in urologic surgical patients are positively correlated with female gender, fear of intrahospital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and oncological disease. PSS-4 questionnaire could be useful to select patients for whom a preadmission counselling is necessary to improve the management of their high stress level.

Case Report: Innate Immune System Challenge Unleashes Paraneoplastic Neurological Autoimmunity

Paraneoplastic autoimmune neurological disorders reflect tumor-initiated immune responses against onconeural antigens. Symptoms and signs can affect the central and/or peripheral nervous systems, neuromuscular junction or muscle, and typically evolve subacutely before an underlying neoplasm is discovered. We describe four patients whose neurological symptoms were precipitated by potent innate immune system challenges: bladder instillation of BCG, tick bite and an “alternative cancer therapy” with bacterial extracts and TNF-α. We hypothesize that a tumor-initiated autoimmune response (evidenced by autoantibody profiles), pre-dating the immune system challenge, was unmasked or amplified in these patients by cytokines released systemically from innate immune cells activated by microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The resultant upregulation of cognate onconeural peptides as MHC1 protein complexes on neural cell surfaces would render those cells susceptible to killing by CD8+ T cells, thus precipitating the patient's neurological symptoms.

Development of an innovative delivery system for bacillus Calmette-Guérin bladder administration

Purpose To describe the development of an innovative process to deliver bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to an offsite urology clinic for bladder instillation. Summary The use of BCG, a live virus vaccine for treatment of patients with localized cancer of the urinary bladder, has created many logistical problems for hospitals and infusion center pharmacies. Due to its short stability, the drug cannot be made ahead of time and coordination with a patient’s arrival at an infusion site is challenging. This becomes exceptionally challenging when a urology clinic has limited compounding capacity and/or is distant from the site of BCG medication preparation. This article describes an innovative process involving use of closed-system transfer devices (CSTDs) to allow for the administration of BCG in a urology clinic offsite from a medical center’s infusion center facilities. Conclusion The use of the CSTD allowed the patients to continue to receive bladder instillations at an offsite urology clinic without significantly disrupting compounding workflow at the small infusion center pharmacy that was the nearest to the clinic.

Bladder Pain Syndrome and Interstitial Cystitis Beyond Horizon: Reports from the Global Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Society (GIBS) Meeting 2019 Mumbai – India

Purpose of the Meeting: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is a prevalent but underserved disease. At the Global Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Society (GIBS) meeting, the organization and participants were committed to delivering word-class expertise and collaboration in research and patient care. Under the umbrella of GIBS, leading research scholars from different backgrounds and specialties, as well as clinicians, from across the globe interested in the science and art of practice of Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS)/Interstitial Cystitis (IC) were invited to deliberate on various dimensions of this disease. The meeting aimed to have global guidelines to establish firm directions to practicing clinicians and patients alike on the diagnosis and treatment of this disease entity. Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) is defined by pain in the pelvic area that can have different etiologies. This can be due to urologic, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and autoimmune or rheumatologic diseases. At the GIBS meeting held in Mumbai, India, in August 2019, a multidisciplinary expert panel of international urologists, gynecologists, pain specialists, and dietitians took part in a think tank to discuss the development of evidence-based diagnostic and treatment algorithms for BPS/IC. Summary of Presented Findings: The diagnosis of BPS/IC is difficult in daily clinical practice. Patients with BPS/IC present with a variety of signs and symptoms and clinical test results. Hence, they might be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, and the correct diagnosis might take a long time. A good history and physical examination, along with cystoscopy, is a must for the diagnosis of IC/BPS. For the treatment, besides lifestyle management and dietary advice, oral medication and bladder instillation therapy, botulinum toxin, and sacral neuromodulation were discussed. The innovation in bladder instillation applicators, as well as battery-free neuromodulation through the tibial nerve, was discussed, as well. Recommendation for Future Research: As BPS/IC is complex, for many patients, several treatments are necessary at the same time. This was presented at GIBS 2019 as the piano model. In this way, a combination of treatments is tailored to an individual patient depending on the symptoms, age, and patients’ characteristics. In the art of medicine, especially when dealing with BPS/IC patients, pressing the right key at the right time makes the difference.