Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy With Vaginal and Urethral Erbium-Doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Er:YAG) Laser for Overactive Bladder With Urinary Incontinence.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study with propensity score (PS) matching aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy with vaginal and urethral erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (VEL+UEL) (SP Dynamis; Fotona d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia) in the treatment of overactive bladder with urinary incontinence (OAB-wet).
Methods: The study included female OAB-wet patients aged 65 and above who were already taking OAB medication. Data obtained from electronic medical records were subjected to propensity score matching. All patients received instructions on pelvic floor exercises and were prescribed an appropriate dose of OAB medication. The VEL+UEL group (n=30) underwent three monthly laser sessions, while the control group (n=30) did not receive the treatment. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), three-day urination diary, and Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS). Medication usage and adverse events were also assessed. Statistical analysis and R code were performed using the AI chatbot GPT-4.0.
Results: The VEL+UEL group showed significant improvements in OABSS score, ICIQ-SF score, voided volume, daytime frequency, nocturia, and VHIS after 12 months of treatment (p<0.001). Notably, 13.3% of patients transitioned from OAB-wet to OAB-dry. In contrast, the control group did not exhibit significant changes. Medication use was significantly reduced in the VEL+UEL group compared to the control group (p<0.001). No long-term side effects were reported.
Conclusion: Combination therapy with VEL+UEL demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of OAB-wet. Improvements in OAB symptoms, voided volume, frequency, nocturia, and vaginal health were observed, with a subset of patients transitioning to OAB-dry. VEL+UEL therapy offers a potential treatment option for OAB-wet, reducing medication use and improving patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanism, long-term effects, safety, and cost-effectiveness of VEL+UEL therapy.
Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethical Review Board of Yokosuka Urogynecology and Urology Clinic issued approval 24-C001. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all patients, and written consent was signed by each patient. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
(Copyright © 2024, Okui et al.)