Dr Ailsa Wilson Edwards MBBS (Hons) FRACS (Urol)
Consultant Urologist
Painful bladder syndrome is a well recognised chronic pelvic pain syndrome with a rising profile. Aetiology is likely multifactorial and the varied theories form bases for treatments. Phenotyping of PBS is an evolving field. Diagnosis is made on history and examination and supplemented by investigations. International guidelines can assist clinicians with a framework for evidence based multidisciplinary care. Treatments range widely from general to bladder specific and should start with conservative and low risk before escalation is considered. The range of available therapies allows personalisation according to individual patient needs and resource availability. A diagnosis of PBS should be reconsidered if no improvement is seen within an appropriate time-frame. Clinicians involved in the management of people with painful bladder syndrome have the opportunity to make meaningful difference through thoughtful care and support. PBS phenotyping and therapy is an area of research with enormous potential for breakthrough in the next decade.
Biography:
Dr Ailsa Wilson Edwards is a consultant Urologist from Adelaide with a special interest in Functional and Reconstructive Urology and Female Urology.
She is an Adelaide University Medical School Honours graduate, with advanced training in Queensland and London, including a high profile reconstruction fellowship from University College London Hospital.
During the Medicare MBS Review she represented Urology on the review Taskforce for Urogynaecology. She is a state committee member of the Continence Foundation of Australia and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Young Fellows.
As well as working at Calvary North Adelaide at Continence Matters, her current passion is establishing a public Female Urology unit and multidisciplinary Pelvic Floor Medicine unit in the north of Adelaide at Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospitals.