Memokath(TM) urethral stents induce incontinence in patients with urethral balloon catheters.

OBJECTIVE With an aging society, elderly patients increasingly require long-term placement of urethral balloon catheters. In this study, we investigated if Memokath(TM) urethral stents, when inserted from the bladder neck to distal to the urethral sphincter in elderly men being treated with urethral balloon catheters, induce incontinence, which would then be managed with adult briefs. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of all outpatients who were being managed with urethral balloon catheters at our institution from September 2011 through March 2012, 4 patients who had had problems with the catheters were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were a performance status of 1 or 2 and the ability to urinate after standard placement of the stent. After application of local anesthesia to the urethra, the Memokath(TM) stent was placed distal to the urethral sphincter under radiographic guidance in all patients. RESULTS After stent placement, all patients had total incontinence and were catheter-free. Although 2 patients were receiving anticoagulant therapy before the procedure, no intraprocedural or postprocedural anticoagulant-related complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS Memokath(TM) stent-induced incontinence is a safe and effective treatment for patients requiring long-term placement of urethral balloon catheters who are expected to have continuing urination difficulties.