Clinical experience with intravesical prostaglandin E2. A prospective study of 36 patients.

In a prospective study, intravesical prostaglandins were given to 36 patients who had urinary symptoms associated with a poorly functioning detrusor; 67% of these patients were found to be in chronic retention. Using standard urodynamic techniques, 72% showed objective evidence of an immediate improvement in detrusor function and there was prolonged therapeutic benefit in 39%. A prolonged response occurred only in patients who had an intact sacral reflex arc and urodynamic evidence of a pathologically enlarged bladder, and who did not have radiologically demonstrable outflow obstruction. The use of intravesical prostaglandin to stimulate the detrusor was also found to be of value as a urodynamic technique for the investigation of the lower urinary tract.