Introduction: Intradetrusor injection of onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX-A) can be performed with rigid or flexible cystoscopy. The primary aim of this study was to analyze irrigant flow rate and total angle of deflection for the intradetrusor injection needles used for flexible cystoscopic injection of BTX-A to see if any needle provided a technical advantage.
Methods: Three commercially available intradetrusor injection needles were evaluated using two modern flexible cystourethroscopes. The three needles analyzed were the NBI070 (Coloplast, Minneapolis, MN), DIS200 (Laborie, Williston, VT), and NM-101C-0427/MAJ-565/MAJ-655 (Olympus, Center Valley, PA). Angles of deflection and irrigant flow rates were calculated with an empty working channel and each injection needle in the working channel of the two flexible cystoscopes.
Results: With the working channel empty, the Karl Storz 11272CU1 (KS) and Olympus CYF-V2 (O) cystoscopes had a total range of deflection of 341 degrees and 281 degrees, respectively. Total range of deflection with the KS cystoscope was reduced to 275 degrees, 250 degrees, and 311 degrees for the Coloplast NBI070, Laborie DIS200, and Olympus NM-101C-0427 needles, respectively. Total range of deflection with the O cystoscope was reduced to 195 degrees, 157 degrees, and 257 degrees for Coloplast NBI070, Laborie DIS200, and Olympus NM-101C-0427 needles, respectively. Average flow rates with an empty working channel were 5.7 mL/s and 5.5 mL/s for the KS and O cystoscopes, respectively. Mean flow rate with the KS cystoscope was reduced to 1.0 mL/s, 0.1 mL/s, and 0.7 mL/s for Coloplast NBI070, Laborie DIS200, and Olympus NM-101C-0427 needles, respectively. Mean flow rate with the O scope was reduced to 0.5 mL/s, 0.1 mL/s, and 0.4 mL/s for Coloplast NBI070, Laborie DIS200, and Olympus NM-101C-0427 needles, respectively.
Conclusion: Among commercially available intradetrusor BTX-A injection needles, the Olympus NM-101C-0427 allows for the greatest total range of deflection and has the greatest elasticity and flexibility. Coloplast NBI070 allows for the best flow rate.