Feasibility and Efficacy of Transvaginal Botulinum Toxin A Chemodenervation of the Bladder for the Third Line Treatment of Refractory Overactive Bladder

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH: Women with overactive bladder are invited to participate in a research study of transvaginal injection of botulinum toxin A (BTA) into the bladder wall for overactive bladder. We hope to learn that this route is easy to perform, well tolerated, and is effective in controlling overactive bladder symptoms. Possible participants in this study are selected because they have overactive bladder symptoms that were refractory to oral therapy, and we believe BTA injection therapy may improve symptoms. This drug is FDA approved for treatment of this disorder via the cystoscopic route of delivery when injected into the wall of the bladder for overactive bladder. In our study we will be injecting BTA into the wall of the bladder by simply inserting a small needle through the anterior vaginal wall to deliver BTA to the bladder wall.

DURATION OF STUDY INVOLVEMENT: This research study is expected to take 120 minutes for the baseline visit at week 0 for transvaginal BTA injection, and then 30 minutes for each of the follow-up visits via telehealth or in-person at 6 and 12 weeks following the procedure. Just as in routine clinical practice for cystoscopic BTA injection, subjects will be eligible for repeat BTA injection when they report less than 50% improvement in symptoms after the 12 week study visit. This will help us understand how long the effect of the BTA lasts, which is typically 3 to 12 months with the traditional cystoscopic route of delivery. A new consent form will be signed at the time of each repeat injection.

INJECTION PROCEDURE AND FOLLOW-UP:

• At the week 0 baseline visit, subjects will urinate into a cup for urinalysis to make sure they do not have a urinary tract infection. Subjects will then undergo post-void residual measurement of how much urine is left in the bladder after they urinate using an non-invasive ultrasound bladder scanner, as is routinely done in office, to make sure they are not retaining urine prior to BTA injection.
• If there is no urinary tract infection and subjects are not in urinary retention, then a routine vaginal exam will be performed to confirm the anatomy of the anterior vaginal wall. The investigator will then use a vaginal ultrasound to measure the dimensions of the bladder and the thickness of the trigone of the bladder prior to injection. The ultrasound is then removed. The ultrasound procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes.
• The investigator will then reconstitute the BTA (Botox® 100 units) with preservative free saline for injection, and then using a very thin 25 gauge needle the BTA will be injected into the bladder in a single needle puncture. The injection procedure unusually takes less than 1 minute and patients usually report just a brief cramp during the injection that resolves within 2 minutes following injection.
• The investigator will then perform a repeat vaginal ultrasound to measure the change in the thickness of the trigone of the bladder after injection. The injection site will be observed for hemostasis and subjects will be given a Kotex pad to keep the betadine from staining the underwear. Subjects may see some spotting on the pad for up to 24 hours after injection. Post-injection precautions and teaching will be provided by the investigator after the procedure.
• After the injection, the investigator will schedule subjects for follow-up visits for 6 and 12 weeks after injection. Follow-up visits will be conducted via telehealth or in-person if subjects are not able to complete a telehealth visit. Subjects will be expected to complete the bladder questionnaires and 3-day bladder diary at baseline and before each of these visits so that the investigator can accurately measure the change in overactive bladder symptoms after BTA injection.
• Just as in routine clinical practice for cystoscopic BTA injection, subjects will be eligible for repeat BTA injection when they report less than 50% improvement in symptoms according to the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scale after the 12 week study visit. This will help us understand how long the effect of the BTA lasts, which is typically 3 to 12 months with the traditional cystoscopic route of delivery. A new consent form will be signed at the time of repeat injection.