Electromotive drug administration and hydrodistention for the treatment of interstitial cystitis

Thirteen patients with interstitial cystitis diagnosed by the NIH criteria were treated with intravesical electromotive administration of lidocaine and dexamethasone followed by cystodistention. After a mean follow-up of 10 (range 3-22) months, 8/13 (62%) of the patients reported complete resolution of bladder symptoms lasting an average 4.5 (range 0.75-17) months. Partial or short-term improvement of bladder symptoms was observed in three patients, while two patients reported aggravation of pain for several days after therapy. A significant increase in bladder capacity, to an average 166% of the pretreatment capacity, was observed in all patients. Whenever symptoms recurred after initially effective therapy, retreatments were performed with equal efficacy in 11 patients. This promising new therapeutic approach, performed on an outpatient basis, may become first-line treatment for patients with interstitial cystitis.