The Helmstein bladder distension treatment for tumours and severe bleeding

The Helmstein bladder distension treatment was applied to 26 patients, who received a total of 70 treatments (52 for bladder tumour and 18 for severe bleeding; in 7 cases for both tumour and bleeding). In the T2 tumours total necrosis occurred in 27% of the cases, partial necrosis in 50% and no necrosis in 23%. Of the patients with total necrosis 64% had recurrences within 12 months. In the T3-T4 tumours only 33% had a temporary slight reduction of the tumour mass. In patients with severe bleeding from the bladder, haematuria ceased within 1 to 5 days after the treatment in 12 out of 18 cases. Bleeding, however, recurred after an average of 3 months. It is concluded that the treatment is useful in selected cases with multiple tumours of the bladder, and the method is effective in controlling severe bleeding from the bladder.