Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumors

We performed a meta-analysis to confirm the efficacy and safety of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Randomized controlled trials of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy were searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The data were evaluated and statistically analyzed using RevMan version 5.3.0.

Four studies including 861 participants which compared continuous saline bladder irrigation with intravesical chemotherapy were considered. One-year recurrence-free survival [odds ratio (OR) = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.55–1.05, p = 0.09]; 2-year recurrence-free survival (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.71–1.25, p = 0.68); the median period to first recurrence (OR = − 1.01, 95% CI = − 2.96 to 0.94, p = 0.31); the number of tumor progression (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.54–1.17, p = 0.25); and the number of recurrence during follow-up (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.84–1.50, p = 0.43) suggested that two methods of postoperative perfusion had no significant differences. In terms of safety, including macrohematuria, frequency of urination and bladder irritation symptoms, continuous saline bladder irrigation showed better tolerance than intravesical chemotherapy.

Continuous saline bladder irrigation seems to provide a better balance between prevention of recurrence and local toxicities than intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumors.