Local doctors learn new treatment for urinary incontinence 

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

“One in three women experience stress urinary incontinence,” says Dr. James Tierney, Vice Chair of Urology for Charleston Area Medical Center. “‘Stress’ is a simple cough, laugh, or sneeze.” 

“It impacts quality of life,” he says to a group of residents at CAMC’s Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. “Our job is to tell patients what’s on the menu to improve their quality of life. This isn’t cosmetic urology; this is real stuff.” 

According to the National Institutes of Health, stress urinary incontinence affects millions of people around the world. “Stress urinary incontinence is a common condition characterized by the sudden, involuntary leakage of urine during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, or exercising. This condition affects millions globally, significantly impacting their quality of life. Although it can occur in men after prostate surgery, it is most prevalent in women, particularly those who have undergone multiple vaginal childbirths, menopause, or pelvic surgery,” they note. 

So what should a patient do? Dr. Tierney told the local residents that urologists typically recommend exercises such as kegels or a surgical sling. 

“Exercises may or may not help,” he says. “The sling has an 80-90% success rate over 17 years. It’s the gold standard. But surgery is not for everyone.”

For those patients seeking another option, Dr. Tierney recommends a new treatment which he says is yielding very positive results. 

It’s called Bulkamid. Manufactured by Axonics, it’s an injection a urologist can use to “bulk” up the urethra and prevent leakage. 

“It’s a simple injection that takes 15 minutes,” Dr. Tierney reports. “It’s 92% effective up to seven years. My patients tell me it turns their life around.” 

Dr. Cristi Hughart, a Urologist at CAMC Greenbrier Valley, agreed with Dr. Tierney. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from patients (who received Bulkamid), ‘You changed my life.’” 

She said that most insurance providers cover the treatment, making it accessible to most local patients. 

The medical residents at CAMC Greenbrier Valley, who have all completed their medical school education and are now training in specialties, then had the opportunity to perform the injection procedure for Bulkamid using pig bladders. Dr. Tierney and representatives of Axionics instructed them as they worked on the intricacies of how to best perform the injections for patient safety and effectiveness. 

Dr. Christopher Kennedy runs the Family Medicine Program for CAMC Greenbrier Valley. He provides medical residents with classroom and hands-on learning experiences during their training. 

“It’s a skill lab,” says Debbie Parsons, Chief Nursing Officer for CAMC Greenbrier Valley. “Dr. Kennedy is so good at working with the residents and providing them these opportunities.” 

CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is located at 1320 Maplewood Avenue, Ronceverte, WV. For more information, visit their website: https://www.camc.org/gvmc.