Collagen injection therapy for type III stress urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a distressing, demoralizing, costly condition that affects 10% to 25% of women and up to 5% of men between the ages of 15 and 60 years. One common type of urinary incontinence is stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which is the involuntary loss of urine during physical activities that increase intraabdominal pressure. Many individuals with SUI have intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Until recently, treatment for intrinsic sphincter deficiency involved open surgical procedures and lengthy recovery periods. Patients now have the option of undergoing a less-invasive treatment: collagen injections into their bladder necks and proximal urethras. Perioperative nurses can enhance the success of collagen injection therapy by understanding the psychosocial needs of patients with SUI, the patient selection criteria and diagnostic tests required for this new treatment approach, and the nursing role in collagen injection procedures.