Can Oral Fesoterodine Be an Alternative for Intravesical Oxybutynin Instillations in Children with Neuropathic Bladder Dysfunction?

A low-pressure bladder in children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction can be achieved using anticholinergic medication. Due to the significant side effects of oral oxybutynin, our patients are treated with daily intravesical oxybutynin instillations. Newer oral anticholinergic medication, such as fesoterodine, claim to have fewer side effects in a once daily formulation. Because once-daily oral intake is easier than performing twice-daily intravesical instillations, we studied the effects of switching from intravesical oxybutynin to oral fesoterodine and compared the clinical response, urodynamic parameters and side effects.

Twenty children (11 girls, 9 boys, 4-17 years) with neuropathic bladder dysfunction who perform clean intermittent catheterization and use intravesical oxybutynin instillations twice daily were included in this prospective study. Voiding diaries, a behavioural checklist, urodynamic investigations, vital signs and blood samples were evaluated at baseline during treatment with intravesical oxybutynin and repeated after 40 days of oral fesoterodine.

Out of 20, 13 (65%) children showed an identical objective dryness (pad-test), 2 (10%) improved and 5 (25%) got worse. Seven (35%) children reported equal dryness, 7 (35%) reported improvement and 6 (30%) reported that it got worse. From a urodynamic perspective, 13 (65%) children remained identical, 3 (15%) improved and 4 (20%) got worse. Four (20%) children reported a light to moderate dry mouth, 1 (5%) a headache, 1 (5%) behavioural changes during fesoterodine administration, 1 (5%) an increased appetite, 1 (5%) nausea and 1 (5%) hot flushes.

The urodynamics after 40 days of fesoterodine were in 16 (80%) identical or better and could be a safe alternative for oxybutynin instillations in children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction.

Urologia internationalis. 2019 May 22 [Epub ahead of print]

Marleen van den Heijkant, Katrien De Coster, Katrien Jansen, Guy Bogaert

Department Urology-Pediatric Urology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department Pediatric Neurology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department Urology-Pediatric Urology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, .