The Pathology and Treatment of Incontinence

Abstract

In order to understand the pathology of incontinence, it is important to investigate urinary symptoms, urological and neurological examinations and urodynamics. There are two kinds of incontinence. One is true incontinence in which urine passes through urethra, and the other is false incontinence due to the ectopic opening of the ureter, for example to the vagina. The former includes stress incontinence, urge incontinence, reflex incontinence, overflow incontinence and total incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs with the sudden increase of abdominal pressure such as cough, running and exertion. The cause of stress incontinence is thought to be weakening of pelvic floor muscles after delivery or aging. In these patients, the bladder base and urethra move downwards and backwards, which make the posterior vesico-urethral angle more than 120 degrees. Treatment of stress incontinence includes pelvic floor exercise, administration of alpha-stimulants which increase the tonus of the internal sphincter and surgery to elevate the urethra. Urge incontinence is observed when detrusor instability occurs. It is also seen in patients with neurological diseases such as multiple cerebral infarction or with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Treatment of urge incontinence includes administration of anticholinergics to decrease bladder hyperreflexia. Reflex incontinence is seen in patients with spinal cord disorders. It occurs due to reflex contraction of detrusor and the treatment involves administration of anti-cholinergics. Overflow incontinence is seen in patients with voiding difficulties due to BPH. It occurs when residual urine increases and when the intravesical pressure exceeds urethral pressure on body movement. Treatment for this is intended to improve voiding difficulties. Total incontinence occurs when total sphincter function is damaged. It is observed when the external sphincter is injured during transurethral resection of prostate. Treatment includes administration of alpha-stimulants or placement of an artificial urinary sphincter. False incontinence is seen in the patients with uretero-vaginal fistula. Reimplantation of ureter into the bladder base is treatment of choice.