Side Effects of Cystoclysis (Bladder Denervation)
Primary Complications and Outcomes
Cystolysis has poor long-term efficacy with only 9% of patients remaining symptom-free, and carries significant risk of treatment failure requiring alternative management. 1
The procedure, which involves supratrigonal denervation of the bladder, demonstrates the following complication profile:
Treatment Failure Rates
- Only 1 out of 11 patients (9%) remained completely symptom-free in long-term follow-up studies 1
- 27% (3/11) experienced improvement in pain but continued to suffer from frequency and nocturia 1
- 64% (7/11) had complete treatment failure with no sustained benefit 1
Common Side Effects Related to Bladder Procedures
While specific complications of cystolysis are not extensively documented in the provided evidence, related bladder procedures demonstrate similar adverse effects:
Immediate Post-Procedure Complications
- Pain and discomfort during and after the procedure 2
- Hematuria (blood in urine) - occurs in up to 17.2% of bladder procedures 2
- Dysuria (painful urination) - common transient complication 2, 3
- Urinary tract infection - documented risk with bladder instrumentation 2
Functional Complications
- Persistent urinary frequency - reported in 27% of cystolysis patients despite pain improvement 1
- Nocturia (nighttime urination) - continues in patients with partial response 1
- Bladder spasms - related to inflammatory response 4
Quality of Life Impact
Bladder procedures generally have measurable effects on patient well-being:
- Sexual dysfunction: Decreased libido reported in 55.6% of sexually active men and 50% of women following bladder procedures 3
- Erectile dysfunction: Temporary decline in erectile function scores (from 15.6 to 9.26) during first 2 weeks post-procedure 3
- Anxiety: Pre-procedure anxiety levels average 2.01 on 0-5 scale 3
Severe Complications (Rare)
- Bladder contracture - can develop with chronic inflammation 4
- Urinary retention - though rare in standard cystoscopy (0% in one series) 3
- Urethrorrhagia (urethral bleeding) - part of 15% overall complication rate 3
Clinical Considerations
The high failure rate of cystolysis (91%) makes it a poor choice for most patients with intractable bladder conditions. 1 Alternative multimodal therapies targeting chronic inflammation should be prioritized, with surgical options like augmentation cystoplasty or urinary diversion reserved for truly refractory cases. 2, 5