Open Access

ARTICLE

Canadian Urological Association guidelines on urinary incontinence

Jacques Corcos¹, Jerzy Gajewski², Diane Heritz³, Allan Patrick⁴, Ian Reid⁵, Erik Schick⁶, Lynn Stothers⁷

1 McGill University, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2 Dalhousie University, QE II Health Science Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
3 Niagara Health System, St Catherines, Ontario, Canada
4 Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
5 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
6 University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
7 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Address correspondence to Dr. Jacques Corcos, Department of Urology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2006, 13(3), 3127-3138.

Abstract

Objective: To develop the first Canadian guidelines for the management of adult urinary incontinence (UI).
Method: Following a mandate of the Canadian Urological Association, six Canadian urologists collaborated to produce these guidelines after having extensively reviewed existing foreign guidelines and literature from 1966 to June 2005.
Results: The terminology proposed by the standardization committee of the International Continence Society (ICS) is recommended. Basic evaluation must include a history, physical examination, evaluation of post void residual volume, urinalysis and voiding diary. A more detailed evaluation is recommended for complex cases or if initial management fails. As non-pharmacological treatments, devices (catheters, pessaries, etc.) play an important role in selected patients. Lifestyle adjustments are recommended to be implemented first before considering other forms of treatment. Pelvic exercises can be helpful for the mildest cases of pelvic relaxation, in motivated compliant patients. In highly selected patients neuromodulation can improve the patient's quality of life.
Probantheline, oxybutinin and tolterodine have a proven efficacy in the treatment of UI. Imipramine and oestrogens are suggested while flavoxate has an unproven efficacy. Surgery in women is indicated when the degree of incontinence is sufficiently troublesome to the patient, the incontinence has been observed by the examiner, its causes adequately evaluated and conservative therapies have been reviewed. Primary stress urinary incontinence in the female is effectively treated by a retropubic suspension (Burch or Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz), or a pubovaginal sling procedure. Pubovaginal slings are the procedure of choice in the presence of significant intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD), the absence of hypermobility, or in the treatment following a failed retropubic suspension. Periurethral injectables are recommended first line treatment of SUI when available. In men, artificial sphincter is the treatment of choice in neurogenic and non-neurogenic SUI. In neurogenic bladders and sometimes in "non neurogenic" bladders other forms of surgeries such as bladder denervation, bladder augmentations, neurostimulation, urinary diversion can be considered as the treatment of choice for individual patients.
Conclusion: Canadian guidelines on incontinence have been completed in 2005 reflecting the Canadian health environment. This field of UI is in constant progression and, when of proven efficacy, new medications and devices have to be included in the proposed algorithm of care.

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