Long-term results of bladder transection for urge incontinence.

One hundred and four patients with urge incontinence associated with detrusor instability who had failed to respond to standard conservative treatment were treated by a modified bladder transection procedure. Initially 74% were symptomatically cured, 14% were improved and 12% were failures. At 2 to 5 years after operation these results were 65%, 19% and 16% respectively. There was no significant morbidity and no mortality. Bladder transection is still a useful method of treatment for the refractory patient with detrusor instability, although improvements in conservative treatment have reduced the need for it.