Periurethral bulking agents for female stress urinary incontinence in Canada

Abstract

Urethral bulking aims to improve urethral mucosal coaptation, and thus outlet resistance, in an effort to limit stress-induced leakage. While efforts have been made to employ bulking agents to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) for more than 100 years, we remain wanting for the perfect injectable. Regardless of the agent studied, efficacy is modest at best, repeat injections are the norm, and longterm followup is conspicuously lacking. This treatment, however, fills an important need in our armamentarium against SUI, serving those patients who are not candidates for more invasive interventions and those with multiple prior failed surgeries. This review offers a contemporary discussion on the role of periurethral bulking therapy in Canada, along with practical aspects of its application.