Effect of Procedure Setting on Urinary Retention After Bulkamid Injection

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Female Pelvic Medicine

Background:

• Bulkamid is an FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence.
• Commonly performed in an operating room (OR), office-based procedures offer cost and accessibility benefits.
• Urinary retention is a known complication, but data comparing OR vs. office settings is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the rates of postoperative urinary retention between office-based and OR Bulkamid procedures.
• To identify factors influencing urinary retention after Bulkamid treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 155 medical charts for Bulkamid procedures (2020-2024).
• Data collected on demographics, medical history, and postoperative urinary retention.
• Statistical analysis to compare outcomes based on procedure location.

Main Results:

• Office procedures had higher immediate postoperative urinary retention rates (21.1%) vs. OR (7.7%), though not significant after adjustment.
• A higher proportion of office patients needed intermittent self-catheterization (15.8%) vs. none in the OR (P=0.0001).
• Higher mean age and lower BMI were associated with retention, irrespective of setting.

Conclusions:

• Office-based Bulkamid procedures, despite advantages, are linked to increased immediate postoperative urinary retention.
• Careful patient selection and monitoring are crucial for office-based procedures.