Results of prolonged bladder distension as treatment for detrusor instability

Forty-six patients with urinary symptoms associated with unstable (uninhibitable) detrusor contractions have been treated by a total of 58 bladder distensions; 43 of these were fully re-evaluated urodynamically thereafter and none showed conversion from unstable to stable detrusor behaviour. Four patients with unstable bladders were symptomatically improved but 5 patients reported symptomatic deterioration. We have concluded that while over-distension may sometimes improve a patient's symptoms, it did not result in the abolition of detrusor contractions or the reversal of unstable detrusor behaviour.