Treatment options for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO)
The goals of NDO treatment are to protect the upper urinary tract, achieve (or maintain) urinary continence, improve patients’ quality of life and restore lower urinary tract function.6,7 Additional considerations are the potential for future complications, the patient’s condition, and the ease and cost-effectiveness of treatment.6
Treatment options for NDO include:5,7
Lifestyle advice/behavioural approaches
Assisted emptying
Containment
Pharmacotherapy
Botulinum toxin type A
Neurostimulation
Surgery
Lifestyle/behavioural interventions for NDO include the use of regular voiding schedules and pelvic floor muscle exercises.6
Patients can be taught how to void by abdominal stimulation (triggered reflex voiding) or abdominal straining.6
Containment approaches for NDO include temporary urinary containment products (such as absorbent pads, waterproof pants and external sheaths) and intermittent self- or third-party catheterisation.6
Anticholinergics are widely used treatment for urgency urinary incontinence, but there is limited evidence supporting their use in NDO. Higher doses of anticholinergics can be related to a higher rate of side effects, while other potential limitations include drug-drug interactions, low rates of patient adherence and cognitive effects in the elderly.8–13 For patients in whom oral therapy is not effective, options include botulinum toxin type A, sacral anterior root stimulation, sacral nerve stimulation and surgery.
Sacral anterior root stimulation involves implantation of a device that enables patients with a spinal cord lesion to empty their bladders via stimulation of the sacral anterior roots.13
Sacral nerve stimulation aims to rebalance micturition via electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve roots.14,15
Enterocystoplasty involves enlargement of the bladder by grafting to it a detached segment of intestine.16
Urinary diversion involves the creation of a new bladder outlet with a valve for urinary continence, which is catheterised to empty.17,18
An autologous urethral sling made from the patient’s own body tissue and placed under the urethra to hold it closed when the bladder is pushed downwards, preventing urine leakage is an option for female patients.6
NICE recommends bladder wall injection with botulinum toxin type A as an option for adults:17
With spinal cord disease (e.g. spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis) and
With symptoms of an overactive bladder and
In whom antimuscarinic drugs have proved to be ineffective or poorly tolerated
The EAU guidelines recommend botulinum toxin injection in the detrusor as an option to reduce neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury if antimuscarinic therapy is ineffective.7
BOTOX® is the only botulinum toxin type A currently indicated for the management of bladder dysfunctions in adult patients who are not adequately managed with anticholinergics: overactive bladder with symptoms of urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency; neurogenic detrusor overactivity with urinary incontinence due to sub cervical spinal cord injury (traumatic or non-traumatic) or multiple sclerosis.5
The goals of NDO treatment are to protect the upper urinary tract, achieve (or maintain) urinary continence, improve patients' quality of life and restore lower urinary tract function6,7
NDO: neurogenic detrusor overactivity.
Please refer to the BOTOX® Summary of Product Characteristics for further information on adverse events, contraindications and special warnings and precautions for use.
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
Adverse events should also be reported to AbbVie on GBPV@abbvie.com
Date of preparation: April 2024. UK-BUO-240015.