The subjective and objective benefits of a remote-controlled intraurethral device for managing the female acontractile bladder

OBJECTIVE: To determine the subjective and objective benefits of the Inflow (SRS Medical Systems, N. Billerica, MA, USA) intraurethral device for managing acontractile bladders in women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty women with acontractile bladders who had been managed unsuccessfully by the usual methods were recruited. All patients were asked to complete a quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire and were assessed with urine flowmetry and urine culture; to measure the postvoid residual urine (PVR) in the bladder, ultrasonography was used after activating the device. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the QoL score from a mean of 59.6 before insertion to means of 11.2, 8.8, 6.3 and 5.0 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months afterward. The mean (range) urinary flow rate was 10.7 (9-16) mL/s and the PVR 3 (0-17) mL. Three patients had temporary asymptomatic bacteriuria and two a single infection after the device was inserted that settled readily with antibiotics. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the Inflow device provides an effective method of bladder drainage, with few side-effects and a significant improvement in QoL.