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The aim of this study was to investigate the difference between sitting and standing passive urethral pressure measurements, and to determine the accuracy of urethral pressure profilometry in each position. Urethral pressure profilometry was performed in the sitting and standing position in 98 women. Stress incontinence due to urethral sphincter incompetence was demonstrated in 59 of whom 6 also had detrusor instability. The others were normal volunteers (7), women with a normal cystometrogram (23), and women with detrusor instability (9). MUCP tended to be higher in the standing than the sitting position but this did not reach statistical significance. Urethral lengthening appeared to occur on standing with a mean increase of FUL of 5 mm on standing. For both FUL and MUCP, there was a wide variation in the difference between sitting and standing values. There was poor reproducibility of measurements of MUCP and FUL in the standing position, limiting its clinical applicability. The difference between sitting and standing MUCP and FUL was not affected by age, parity, weight, height, BMI, or oestrogen status. In women with genuine stress incontinence, there was less difference between sitting and standing MUCP, but this explained only a small part of the variability. The increase in FUL in the standing position was unaffected by diagnosis., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Detrusor instability is a syndrome of urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence which can be demonstrated using urodynamic studies to document uninhibited bladder contractions. Idiopathic cases account for 90% and 10% are related to neurologic disorders. Several different treatment modalities are available, including bladder training/drill, electrical stimulation, medical and surgical therapies.

Objective: To assess the contribution of ambulatory urodynamics to the treatment of women with urinary incontinence., Design: A retrospective casenote review of all women referred from the urogynaecology clinic for ambulatory urodynamic monitoring from 1 April 1994 to 31 December 1997., Setting: A teaching hospital tertiary referral centre urodynamic laboratory., Participants: Notes were retrieved of 71 women, 80% of whom had had the investigation because the conventional cystometrogram had been normal., Results: Technical difficulties occurred in 30 traces, two of which were not interpretable. Detrusor instability was diagnosed in 32 women, including three women who also had stress incontinence (42% of interpretable traces). Of these, 20 women were treated with anticholinergics compared with nine of 37 women where detrusor instability was not diagnosed. None of the women with detrusor instability were offered anti-incontinence surgery, compared with five of those where the bladder remained stable. Less than half the women who were treated with anticholinergic medication improved, but none were considered suitable for more aggressive treatment., Conclusions: Although the diagnosis of detrusor instability may be increased by ambulatory urodynamics, this does not always translate into more effective treatment. Ambulatory urodynamic testing does not yet result in clinical improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To investigate the effect of pregnancy and delivery on continence and to assess whether physical markers of collagen weakness can predict postpartum urinary and fecal incontinence (including incontinence of flatus)., Methods: In a prospective, longitudinal study in a London teaching hospital, 549 nulliparas were interviewed after 34 weeks' gestation and again 3 months postpartum regarding urinary and fecal symptoms before and during pregnancy and after delivery. Family histories of incontinence, prolapse, and collagen abnormalities were recorded also. Physical examination was done to assess markers of collagen weakness such as striae, hernia, varicose veins, and joint mobility., Results: The prevalence of urinary incontinence before, during, and after pregnancy was 3.6%, 43.7%, and 14.6%, and rates of fecal incontinence were 0.7%, 6.0%, and 5.5%, respectively. Fecal urgency was more common in women who had spontaneous and instrument-assisted vaginal deliveries (n = 413) compared with cesareans (n = 131) (7.3% versus 3.1%; P = .046). Postnatal urinary or fecal dysfunction was not related to antenatal body mass index, smoking, race, striae, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, or family history of incontinence. Higher joint-mobility scores were associated with incontinence of flatus (P = .021) but not with other urinary or fecal symptoms., Conclusion: Although collagen weakness was previously implicated in the pathogenesis of incontinence, physical markers in this study could not predict postpartum urinary and fecal incontinence. Either those markers were not representative of collagen weakness, or a larger study with longer follow-up is necessary.

This cross-sectional study aimed to study the religious and cultural practices of ethnic minorities that might affect the experience and ideas that sufferers of incontinence have. Subjects were multiparous women from the local community who suffered from incontinence. Structured and unstructured interviews were conducted to assess the effect of incontinence and menstruation on home life, sexual life, personal and communal prayer, rules and customs associated with menstruation, and the ability to discuss problems with their doctor and partners. Individual women differed in how they rated their daily activities, and this was not related to religious or ethnicity. Higher restrictions on activity were perceived for fecal than for urinary incontinence. Sexual relationships were restricted for Jewish and Muslim women during menses. Incontinence led to religious restriction, which was most marked for Jewish and Muslim women, and this was related to the need for cleanliness for prayer. Less then 50% of patients sought help, and this was not related to duration and severity of symptoms. Only Muslim women had a strong preference for female doctors, and this was for cultural reasons.

There are many surgical options to correct sphincteric incontinence. The choice should take account of clinical features, urodynamic data and operation characteristics. Success should be evaluated both subjectively and objectively and it is desirable to have at least a two year follow-up. It is necessary to be aware of the complications of each procedure. Where new techniques are described it is important to use objective outcome measures.

Alterations in the hormonal milieu associated with the menstrual cycle appear to influence the dynamic interaction between the bladder and urethra as well as detrusor function, probably because of the common embryological origin of the lower genital and urinary tracts. In this retrospective study we investigated the effect of the menstrual cycle on cystometric diagnosis. A retrospective case note review of 687 consecutive patients attending the urogynecology unit of St Georges University Hospital, a tertiary referral center, was carried out. The study group comprised 57 women with regular menstrual periods. In both patients whose symptoms were adversely affected premenstrually and those whose symptoms were not influenced by the menstrual cycle, the majority of normal cystometric diagnoses were made in the luteal phase: 45.5% vs. 25% (P < or = 0.002) and 38.5% vs. 4.8% (P < or = 0.05), respectively. Diagnoses of genuine stress incontinence, detrusor instability and mixed genuine stress incontinence and detrusor instability were most frequently made in the follicular phase of the cycle. More normal cystometric diagnoses were made in the influenced group (36.8%) than in the uninfluenced group (21%) (P < 0.02). The results of this preliminary study indicate that the timing of cystometric evaluation may influence the detection of a positive diagnosis. The luteal phase may not be the correct time to make an accurate diagnosis, especially in patients whose symptoms are influenced by their menstrual cycle.

For centuries the structure and function of the pelvic floor and anal sphincter have remained enigmatic. Great strides made in new imaging techniques over the last decade has enabled a better understanding of this complex and dynamic structure. We can now explore pelvic floor dysfunction.

Measurement of distal urethral electrical conductance (DUEC) has been used to detect the movement of urine along the distal urethra. DUEC was used as a screening test in 100 women attending the urodynamic clinic with incontinence and in the 33 women who voided over 250 ml, the findings correlated well with subsequent urodynamic diagnosis of urethral sphincter incompetence and detrusor instability.

Psychological aspects of 211 female patients attending a Urodynamic Unit were assessed by means of standardized questionnaires. Patients with genuine stress incontinence (GSI) showed changes comparable to other patients with longstanding physical complaints. Patients with sensory urgency (SU) lacked self esteem and were more anxious than those with GSI. Patients with detrusor instability (DI) were as anxious and lacking in self esteem as patients with sensory urgency and additionally had morbid thoughts and worries and higher scores on the hysteria sub-scale of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. Roughly a quarter of all the patients reported that their urinary symptoms rendered life intolerable and they were as anxious, depressed and phobic as psychiatric inpatients.

Patients with symptoms of frequency and urgency often complain that their symptoms are exacerbated by tea or coffee. A series of 20 women with confirmed detrusor instability and 10 asymptomatic women were given 200 mg of caffeine citrate and urodynamic studies were performed. In the group with detrusor instability there was a statistically significant increase in detrusor pressure on bladder filling following administration of caffeine, but no difference in volume at first contraction, height of contraction or bladder capacity. Normal women had no abnormality on cystometry.

A clinical and urodynamic analysis of 100 women with geniune stress incontinence and 100 women with detrusor instability is presented to compare and contrast the conditions and the results of their treatment. Emphasis is placed on the need to distinguish accurately between these two conditions.

Eighty patients with urinary incontinence were treated by colposuspension and bladder neck plication. Fourteen patients had difficulty in establishing normal micturition postoperatively. Of these, 10 patients took longer than 21 days to void and had reduced peak urine flow rates after surgery; the other four patients voided within ten days of surgery but had reduced peak urine flow rates before and after surgery and all had residual urines in excess of 100 ml following surgery. The value of the preoperative diagnosis of pre-existent bladder dysfunction by symptomatology and the peak urine flow rate is discussed.

A new method for controlling the symptoms and objective signs of detrusor instability was investigated in a pilot study. The method uses the activity of the bladder neck, monitored by a conductivity catheter, as a biofeedback signal. Voluntary closure of the bladder neck mechanism abolishes abnormal detrusor activity. Ten severely symptomatic women with detrusor instability were assessed clinically and urodynamically before and after a course of biofeedback. Statistically significant improvements in the symptoms of urgency and urge incontinence were found. Five of the seven women who agreed to have repeat cystometry had stable cystometrograms. There was a statistically significant fall in the mean maximum deflection at rest from 41.5 to 16.5 microA (P less than 0.05) measured during bladder neck electrical conductivity tests before and after treatment.

In the past 8 years at St George's Hospital, 13 women underwent urinary diversion for disabling incontinence. Seven patients had multiple sclerosis, 2 had suffered trauma to the lumbar spine and 4 had failed repeated surgery for urethral sphincter incompetence. One patient died several months postoperatively due to relapse of her multiple sclerosis. The remaining 12 were interviewed to determine the effect of the operation on their quality of life. Preoperatively, 9 patients (75%) were either housebound or only ventured out to do the shopping and none led a full social life. Postoperatively 8 patients (67%) managed a full social life and all were improved. Most managed their stomas proficiently and none regretted having the operation. The most common late complication was pyocystis. We conclude that patients with disabling incontinence can have their quality of life substantially improved by urinary diversion. The incidence of pyocystis is probably high enough to warrant vaginal vesicostomy to be performed routinely at the time of diversion, at least in those women with chronic urinary infection.

Measurement of urethral electric conductance can be used to detect the movement of urine along the urethra by registering a change in conductivity reading. This technique has been employed in patients complaining of urge incontinence and has shown movements at the bladder neck when urgency is appreciated. Patients with sensory urgency have been successfully managed by learning to control the movements at the bladder neck during a conductivity recording.

Thirty-nine consecutive women, referred because of lower urinary tract symptoms of stress incontinence, urgency and urge incontinence, were interviewed and their symptoms were graded using a standardized questionnaire. They were investigated with conventional, fast-fill cystometry and with a new bladder neck electrical conductivity (BNEC) test which measures bladder neck activity. A highly significant correlation between the symptoms of urgency and urge incontinence and the maximum amplitude of bladder neck activity was found with the new test. The correlation of the maximum deflection at rest with the symptom of urgency was significantly better than the best correlation found with the cystometric measurements. The values for sensitivity and specificity of cystometry for the detection of an abnormality associated with urgency were 58% and 92% respectively, and the corresponding values for a positive BNEC test (as defined by a maximum deflection at rest greater than 13 microA) were 100% and 77%.

A preliminary study on 40 female patients who had undergone colposuspension surgery was carried out using four drugs in an attempt to reduce the time taken to void spontaneously following surgery and to define the cause of delay. Oral diazepam given as night sedation, was found to be the most effective drug.

26 patients with frequency, urgency and urgency incontinence, without bladder or urethral abnormality, underwent psychiatric evaluation. They were divided into 2 groups according to the degree of neuroticism found. Treatment by group and individual psychotherapy showed that approximately one-third of the patients benefited considerably, one-third refused treatment or ceased prematurely and one-third improved slightly or not at all. The importance of excluding organic bladder or urethral disease prior to psychiatric assessment is stressed.

Careful selection of patients can lead to a modest cure rate in elderly women for incontinence due to urethral sphincter incompetence. This is worth while when considering the few complications encountered during and after the surgical procedure, the independence the patients have achieved and the alternative incomplete cure which would have been afforded by conservative therapy.

The mental state of 211 women attending a urodynamic clinic was assessed using questionnaires. Patients with genuine stress incontinence had scores comparable with other patients with longstanding physical complaints. Patients with sensory urgency were more anxious than those with genuine stress incontinence. Patients with detrusor instability were as anxious as patients with sensory urgency and in addition had higher scores on the hysteria scale. A subset of patients (roughly a quarter of the total) was identified, comprising members of all three diagnostic groups, for whom urinary symptoms rendered life intolerable. These patients were as anxious, depressed, and phobic as psychiatric inpatients, emphasising the serious psychological morbidity experienced by patients with urinary symptoms. Fifty patients with detrusor instability or sensory urgency entered a randomised trial comparing psychotherapy, bladder drill, and propantheline. The psychotherapy group significantly improved on measures of urgency, incontinence, and nocturia, though not on frequency. Bladder training was an effective treatment for frequency and patients became less anxious and depressed. There was a modest improvement in frequency of micturition in patients given propantheline. Frequency may be a learnt disorder which responds to the direct symptom oriented approach of bladder training. Patients with urgency and nocturia predominating might derive more benefit from psychotherapy.

The clinical and urodynamic effects of anterior colporrhaphy and vaginal hysterectomy were studied in 73 patients, of whom 29 had incontinence due to urethral sphincter incompetence. Pre-and post-operative urodynamic assessment was made and follow-up continued for 2 years. Symptoms of urge incontinence, stress incontinence and prolapse were significantly reduced following surgery. Urodynamic data showed no significant change. The incidence of detrusor instability and voiding difficulties was not increased.

In order to diagnose and treat patients with micturitional disturbances it is necessary to obtain as much information as possible about the function of the lower urinary tract in each case. We studied 70 female patients with micturitional disturbances by monitoring pulse, respiration, intrinsic bladder pressure, urine flow rate and volume, and detrusor and sphincter electromyograms during a 2 to 4-hour period. As earlier investigators have shown, there are 2 types of detrusor electromyograms: low frequency and high frequency activity. The low frequency activity is random in nature and has definite patterns in disturbed bladder function. It is a useful diagnostic parameter and, when considered with the results of the sphincter electromyograms and pressure recordings, it provides much diagnostic information in this group of patients. The high frequency activity is similar to that of striated muscle.

In young patients the assessment of urinary incontinence is based increasingly on the results of complex urodynamic investigations. The value of such techniques in the elderly, however, is as yet unproved. Based on the clinical and urodynamic findings in 100 incontinent elderly women an algorithmic method for managing such patients was devised. A retrospective study comparing the algorithmic outcome with the results of standard urodynamic assessment showed that 60% of invasive investigations could be avoided by this method with minimal loss of diagnostic accuracy.

A series of 28 female patients with urge incontinence refractory to other forms of treatment underwent a total of 40 transvesical injections of phenol into the pelvic nerve plexuses. Following primary phenol injection only 8 patients (29%) had a significant response to therapy and all relapsed during follow-up. Only 3 of 11 patients undergoing a second injection had a clinical response to this therapy and 1 developed a vesicovaginal fistula. This suggests that phenol injections have little place in the management of urge incontinence and it is unwise to proceed to 2 or more injections because of the risk of fistula.

Forty-two patients with urinary incontinence and related symptoms were treated by colposuspension. Two patients were lost to follow-up and the results of surgery in the remaining 40 patients are presented and discussed. The place of vaginal surgery in women with urinary symptoms is also discussed.