Seven years experience in the evaluation and management of patients with urge incontinence of urine

Abstract

In 1970 the authors established a specific clinic at the Royal Women's Hospital in an attempt to evaluate the causes of urinary incontinence, to improve the follow-up of patients treated for this complaint, and to determine areas where treatment was deficient. Of 258 patients seen in the clinic so far 80 (31%) were considered to have had stress incontinence, 84 (33%) urgency, and 82 (32%) both symptoms. Incontinence of urine with exertion was common in patients with urgency and furthermore, the Bonney test of urethral elevation was of no value in distinguishing stress from urge incontinence. Therapy with Probanthine 15 mg t.d.s. and Tofranil 25 mg t.d.s. was effective in 127 patients (90%) in whom urgency was the sole or dominant complaint.