Distension therapy for the unstable bladder: later results including an assessment of repeat distensions

51 patients with urgency and urge incontinence of urine and enuresis have been treated by prolonged bladder distension. At recent follow-up, 16 patients were symptom free, 25 substantially improved and 10 symptomatically unchanged, at a mean of 13 months after distension. 13 patients whose symptoms relapsed after a previous distension or who failed to obtain a satisfactory improvement have had a further distension for a more prolonged period. The early results in this group are not as good as for patients having first distensions, although 2 patients have become symptom free, and 6 have shown a substantial symptomatic improvement.