Frequency of Complications Post-Intravesical BCG Instillation in Patients with Superficial Urinary Bladder Carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze patients who underwent intravesical BCG instillation for non-muscle invasive bladder tumor and to determine the frequency of complications after intravesical BCG instillation. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Urology and General Surgery, Pakistan Ordinance Factories Hospital Wah Cantt from 1st January 2019 till 31st December 2020. Methodology: Fifty patients; Results: The mean age was 57.06±7.93 years. Forty two patients (84%) were male and 8 patients (16%) were female. Four patients (8%) were Ta stage, 34 patients (68%) were Tis stage and 12 patients (24%) were T1 stage. Mean time interval between TURBT and BCG instillation was 28.68±5.07 days, mean number of BCG instillation cycles was 6.80±2.06 days. Ten (20%) patients had urinary tract infection, 19 (38%) patients had bladder TB, 9 (18%) patients had BCG sepsis, 5 (10%) patients had miliary TB, 2 (4%) patients had epidimo-orchitis, 2 (4%) patients developed ophthalmic complications, 1 (2%) patient had polyarthralgia, 1 (2%) patient had septic arthritis and 1 (2%) patient developed spinal Conclusion: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin is most commonly used drug as chemotherapeutic agent for superficial bladder tumors after TURBT. Repeated cycles of BCG i.e. 6-12 cycles have been administered to patients. Previously most of symptoms i.e. LUTS, dysuria, hematuria were being associated with presence of tumor but now many case reports and few studies have associated these symptoms with BCG administration. Keywords: Superficial bladder carcinoma, Intravesical BCG, Lower urinary tract symptoms