Incontinence following transurethral resection of the bladder neck in the female

Incontinence is an unwelcome complication of transurethral resection (TUR) of the bladder neck in the female. A computerised analysis of 238 procedures performed during the period 1940 to 1972 was carried out to assess the morbidity due to this complication and to evaluate possible predisposing factors. Initially 15.2% of patients were incontinent but 70% of these soon became continent without further treatment. The remaining 4.7% were treated by surgical or other measures. The incidence of incontinence was unrelated to the amount of tissue removed or to the number of operations, but was significantly lower when the operation was done for polypi of the bladder neck and significantly higher in patients with a cystocele or urethrocele. It seems possible to reduce the incidence of incontinence by careful selection of cases.