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Purpose of Review: The symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) including urinary incontinence, frequency, and urgency are among the most common reasons children are referred to pediatric urologists. Despite this, the workup for LUTD is often time consuming and a source of frustration for patients, parents, and clinicians alike. In the current review, we summarize the important role non-invasive testing plays in the diagnosis and management of children with LUTD and to show how use of these tests can help avoid the need for more invasive testing in the majority of children., Recent Findings: Non-invasive tests such urine studies, uroflowmetry ± simultaneous electromyography, assessment of post-void residual, renal/bladder ultrasound, and pelvic ultrasound when used appropriately can provide valuable information to facilitate decision making during the evaluation of children with LUTD. While these tests should be employed prior to more invasive testing such as urodynamic studies, they can often act as a surrogate for the more invasive tests. Non-invasive tests can help us in our goal of improving diagnostic ability to better classify the child's LUTD into an actual condition which allows targeted treatment in the hope of better outcomes and more satisfied patients and families.

Background: The ICCS defines OAB by the subjective symptom of urgency; detrusor overactivity (DO) is only implied. While no other symptom is required, OAB can also be associated with urinary frequency, decreased functional bladder capacity, and incontinence., Objective: We sought to determine how often these associated findings occur in OAB and what if any uroflow/EMG-defined conditions are found to be associated with it., Methods: The charts of 548 children (231M, 318F; mean age 9.0 years, range 3-20) who presented sequentially with urgency (OAB), over a period of 2 years, were reviewed paying particular attention to whether or not there was a history of frequency and/or daytime incontinence in addition to the urgency. All patients had been previously diagnosed with one of the following four lower urinary tract (LUT) conditions based on specific uroflow/EMG findings: 1. dysfunctional voiding (DV; active pelvic floor EMG during voiding); 2. idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (IDOD; OAB with a short EMG lag time (<2 s), and quiet pelvic floor EMG during voiding); 3. detrusor underutilization disorder (DUD; willful infrequent voiding with %EBC >125%, quiet EMG during voiding); and 4. primary bladder neck dysfunction (PBND; prolonged EMG lag time (>6 s), quiet EMG during voiding, and depressed uroflow curve). Mean %EBC was compared between patients with urgency alone and those with urgency plus other symptoms. Any association with gender was analyzed., Results: Urgency was accompanied by either frequency or daytime incontinence in 91% of the children (summary Table). Daytime incontinence was reported in 398 (72.6%) and frequency in 268 (48.9%). Mean %EBC was 80.9. Females were more likely to report daytime incontinence (76.7% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.02) and frequency was found more often in males (63.6% vs. 38.1%, p < 0.001). %EBC was less in males (70.0 vs. 88.8, p < 0.001). The majority of patients with urgency were diagnosed with IDOD (62%), while 15% had DV, 5% PBND, 3% DUD, and in 15%, the uroflow/EMG was not diagnostic., Conclusions: %EBC was usually normal or mildly increased in OAB when urgency is the only symptom but significantly decreases with each additional LUTS. OAB is more common in girls and they tend to have a lower incidence of frequency, more incontinence, and >%EBC than boys. Because urgency in an anatomically and neurologically normal child is the only required criterion for diagnosing OAB, it must be realized that OAB can be associated with any of a number of objectively defined LUT conditions. Thus OAB appears to be a symptom, not a condition, that is often associated with other symptoms., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: In 1998 it was postulated by the ICCS that urge syndrome, later termed overactive bladder (OAB), and dysfunctional voiding (DV) might not be separate entities and instead represent transitional stages between each other, and that DV may be the evolutionary end product of OAB. The aim of this study was to determine not only if OAB sometimes transitions into DV but also if the reverse occurs, and, if so, might they indeed be parts of one entity., Materials and Methods: To create an objective study of these two conditions, specific "qualifiers" supporting the diagnosis of each condition were introduced: 1) DV included the qualifier of an active EMG during voiding on two studies; 2) OAB included the qualifiers of a short lag time (<2 s) as a surrogate for detrusor overactivity (DO) and a quiet EMG during voiding. Two separate cohorts (one for DV and one for OAB) of 77 consecutive patients each were reviewed. All DV patients were treated with biofeedback and some with antimuscarinics. All OAB patients were treated with antimuscarinics. Both cohorts also received standard therapy and bowel management when indicated. All patients had multiple uroflow/EMG evaluations before and during therapy and were followed for a minimum of 6 months., Results: Mean follow-up was 17.5 months and median age at diagnosis was 6.6 years for DV and 6.4 years for OAB. Of the OAB children none transitioned into DV, although two demonstrated transient DV-like EMG activity on interval testing that did not require biofeedback. Of DV children, following the initiation of biofeedback therapy, the EMG became quiet on follow-up uroflow/EMG after a mean of 9.3 months in 70 of 77 (91%). With EMG quieting, however, a short EMG lag time suggesting DO became apparent in those children with persistent irritative symptoms. This short lag time became apparent in 25 of 31 (81%) children treated with biofeedback alone versus only 8 of 39 (21%) on biofeedback plus antimuscarinics., Conclusion: OAB with qualifiers and DV are two distinct LUT conditions and children do not appear to transition from the one to the other. While some children with DV did demonstrate a short lag time during follow-up, this is because once the EMG quieted in response to biofeedback, it improved our ability to document the already existing DO secondary to their previous DV. A dysfunctional voiding sequence with the postulated initial step being the transition of OAB into DV does not seem to be likely as the age at initial diagnosis was similar in both groups., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: We previously described a lower urinary tract (LUT) condition (detrusor underutilization disorder, DUD) characterized by chronic or episodic willful deferment of voiding resulting in an expanded capacity in patients with LUT symptoms. We now further characterize these DUD patients., Materials and Methods: We reviewed our database identifying neurologically/anatomically normal children diagnosed with DUD. Bladder capacity had to be at least >125% EBC for age to be included. LUTS, diaries and uroflow/EMG findings were analyzed., Results: Fifty-five children (mean age 10.5 years, range 3.7-20.2; 34F, 19M) with LUTS were diagnosed with DUD. The most common reasons for presentation included incontinence (43.6%), history of urinary tract infection (UTI) (49.1%), and urgency (30.9%). Mean percent estimated bladder capacity for age was 1.67 and following treatment mean %EBC decreased to 1.10., Conclusions: DUD patients typically present with infrequent voiding, incontinence, urgency, and UTIs. They have less bowel dysfunction and frequency, and larger bladder capacities than typically found in children with overactive bladder and dysfunctional voiding. Although the symptoms associated with DUD overlap in part with those considered by the International Children's Continence Society to be typical for "underactive bladder" and "voiding postponement", DUD, we feel, is a stand-alone diagnosis., (Copyright © 2013 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: There has been hesitancy to use dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (DHXA, Deflux for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the setting of lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction because of the limited number of published studies, the possibility of less success, and the manufacturer's recommendations contraindicating its use in patients with active LUT dysfunction. We report on our experience using DXHA in this subset of patients whose VUR persisted despite targeted therapy for their LUT condition., Materials and Methods: We reviewed patients diagnosed with both a LUT condition and VUR who underwent subureteric DXHA while still undergoing treatment for their LUT dysfunction. Persistence of VUR was confirmed by videourodynamic studies (VUDS)/VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram) and all patients were on targeted treatment (TT) and antibiotic prophylaxis prior to and during DXHA injection. VUR was reassessed post-injection., Results: Fifteen patients (22 ureters; 21F,1M) met inclusion criteria (mean age 6.1 years, range 4-12). Following one to three DXHA injections, VUR resolved in 17 ureters (77%) including eight of nine ureters in dysfunctional voiding (DV) patients, five of nine in idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (IDOD), and four of four in detrusor underutilization disorder (DUD) patients., Conclusions: DXHA is safe and effective in resolving VUR in children with associated LUT dysfunction, even before their LUT condition has fully resolved. Highest resolution rates were noted in patients with either DV or DUD or who were least symptomatic prior to injection., (Copyright © 2013 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Non-invasive uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography (uroflow/EMG) has previously been reported as effective in triaging patients into four specific non-neurogenic lower urinary tract (LUT) conditions for targeted treatment. In this study we sought to determine if the same parameters would be useful for measuring response to treatment., Material and Methods: We reviewed our database of normal children with LUT dysfunction, screened with uroflow/EMG, and diagnosed with a LUT condition: (1) dysfunctional voiding (DV); (2) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (IDOD); (3) detrusor underutilization disorder (DUD); (4) primary bladder neck dysfunction (PBND). Pre- and on-treatment (minimum 3 months) uroflow/EMG parameters and subjective improvements were compared., Results: Of 159 children (71 boys, 88 girls; median age 7.0 years, range 3.5-18.0 years), median follow up was 13.1 months (range 3-43 months). On targeted treatment, DV patients showed relaxation of pelvic floor during voiding and significant decrease in PVR on biofeedback; IDOD patients had normalization of short lag time and increased capacity on antimuscarinics; DUD patients had a decrease in capacity on timed voiding; PBND patients on alpha-blocker therapy showed improved uroflow rates and a decrease in mean EMG lag time (all p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Non-invasive uroflow/EMG is useful not only for diagnosing specific LUT conditions, but also in objectively monitoring treatment efficacy. Subjective improvement on targeted therapy correlates well with objective improvements in uroflow/EMG parameters lending validation to this simplified approach to diagnosis., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: Although a staccato uroflow pattern is considered representative of dysfunctional voiding (DV), we recently found that only a third of children with staccato flow had an active pelvic floor electromyography (EMG) during voiding. Here, we analyzed the reverse, that is, how often a staccato flow pattern occurs in children with documented DV. In addition, we reviewed what other flow patterns are prevalent in this condition., Materials and Methods: We reviewed our LUT dysfunction registry for children with EMG-confirmed DV. Uroflow patterns were categorized as staccato, interrupted, mixed (i.e., staccato and interrupted patterns), or grossly normal., Results: Of 596 children who underwent a uroflow/EMG examination, 121 had an active pelvic floor EMG during voiding, that is a finding consistent with the diagnosis of DV. The flow patterns identified in those diagnosed with DV were staccato in 70 (58%), interrupted in 22 (19%), mixed in 12 (10%), and a bell-shaped or depressed curve in 17 (14%). Staccato pattern became normal in 96% following successful treatment with biofeedback., Conclusions: While a staccato uroflow pattern was the most common pattern seen in children diagnosed with DV by a uroflow/EMG, nearly a third had an interrupted or mixed flow pattern underscoring the importance of performing simultaneous pelvic floor EMG during a uroflow study, especially when trying to rule out DV. Failure of the staccato flow pattern to normalize after therapy strongly suggests either inadequate therapy or an incorrect diagnosis., (Copyright © 2013 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine utility of short pelvic floor electromyography (EMG) lag time in monitoring therapeutic response in children with idiopathic detrusor overactivity (DO) and quiet EMG during voiding (idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder, IDOD)., Patients and Methods: 162 consecutive normal children (77M, 85F) diagnosed with IDOD and short EMG lag time were reviewed. All were treated with combined standard urotherapy and anticholinergics. Pre-treatment uroflow/EMG parameters were compared with on-treatment parameters., Results: Median age at evaluation was 6.8 years and median EMG lag time was 0 s; 110 children had repeat uroflow/EMG studies while on anticholinergic therapy. With a median follow-up of 18.7 months, mean EMG lag time increased from 0.7 to 2.2 s and % expected bladder capacity for age (EBC) increased from 0.68 to 0.98 (both p < 0.01). EMG lag time increased in all patients while on therapy and normalized in 83 patients (75%)., Conclusion: A short EMG lag time on noninvasive uroflow/EMG in a patient with urgency can be a surrogate for urodynamics study (UDS) in diagnosing DO and objectively monitoring response to therapy. When effectively treated, children with DO have amelioration of their lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and normalization of both EMG lag time and bladder capacity., (Copyright © 2013 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Lower urinary tract dysfunction is a common pediatric urological problem that is often associated with urinary tract infection. We determined the prevalence of a urinary tract infection history in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction and its association, if any, with gender, bowel dysfunction, vesicoureteral reflux and specific lower urinary tract conditions., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of children diagnosed with and treated for lower urinary tract dysfunction, noting a history of urinary tract infection with or without fever, gender, bowel dysfunction and vesicoureteral reflux in association with specific lower urinary tract conditions., Results: Of the 257 boys and 366 girls with a mean age of 9.1 years 207 (33%) had a urinary tract infection history, including 88 with at least 1 febrile infection. A total of 64 patients underwent voiding cystourethrogram/videourodynamics, which revealed reflux in 44 (69%). In 119 of the 207 patients all infections were afebrile and 18 underwent voiding cystourethrogram/videourodynamics, which revealed reflux in 5 (28%). A urinary tract infection history was noted in 53% of girls but only 5% of boys (p <0.001). Patients with detrusor underutilization disorder were statistically more likely to present with an infection history than patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder or primary bladder neck dysfunction (each p <0.01)., Conclusions: Females with lower urinary tract dysfunction have a much higher urinary tract infection incidence than males. This association was most often noted for lower urinary tract conditions in which urinary stasis occurs, including detrusor underutilization disorder and dysfunctional voiding. Reflux was found in most girls with a history of febrile infections. Since reflux was identified in more than a quarter of girls with only afebrile infections who were evaluated for reflux, it may be reasonable to perform voiding cystourethrogram or videourodynamics in some of them to identify reflux., (Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: There is a known association between nonneurogenic lower urinary tract conditions and vesicoureteral reflux. Whether reflux is secondary to the lower urinary tract condition or coincidental is controversial. We determined the rate of reflux resolution in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction using targeted treatment for the underlying condition., Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed and treated for a lower urinary tract condition who had concomitant vesicoureteral reflux at or near the time of diagnosis were included. Patients underwent targeted treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis, and reflux was monitored with voiding cystourethrography or videourodynamics., Results: Vesicoureteral reflux was identified in 58 ureters in 36 females and 5 males with a mean age of 6.2 years. After a mean of 3.1 years of treatment reflux resolved with targeted treatment in 26 of 58 ureters (45%). All of these patients had a history of urinary tract infections before starting targeted treatment. Resolution rates of vesicoureteral reflux were similar for all reflux grades. Resolution or significant improvement of reflux was greater in the ureters of patients with dysfunctional voiding (70%) compared to those with idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (38%) or detrusor underutilization (40%)., Conclusions: Vesicoureteral reflux associated with lower urinary tract conditions resolved with targeted treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis in 45% of ureters. Unlike the resolution rates reported in patients with reflux without a coexisting lower urinary tract condition, we found that there were no differences in resolution rates among grades I to V reflux in patients with lower urinary tract conditions. Patients with dysfunctional voiding had the most improvement and greatest resolution of reflux. Additionally grade V reflux resolved in some patients., (Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: It is recognized that there is a strong association between bladder and bowel dysfunction. We determined the association of constipation and/or encopresis with specific lower urinary tract conditions., Materials and Methods: We reviewed our database of children with lower urinary tract dysfunction and divided cases into 3 categories of bowel dysfunction (constipation, encopresis and constipation plus encopresis) and 4 lower urinary tract conditions (dysfunctional voiding, idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder, detrusor underutilization disorder and primary bladder neck dysfunction). Associations between bowel dysfunction types and each lower urinary tract condition were determined., Results: Of 163 males and 205 females with a mean age of 8.5 years constipation was the most common bowel dysfunction (27%). Although encopresis is generally thought to reflect underlying constipation, only half of children with encopresis in this series had constipation. Dysfunctional voiding was associated with the highest incidence of bowel dysfunction. All but 1 patient with encopresis had associated urgency and detrusor overactivity, and the encopresis resolved in 75% of patients after initiation of anticholinergic therapy. Constipation was significantly more common in girls (27%) than in boys (11%, p <0.01), while encopresis was more common in boys (9%) than in girls (3%, p = 0.02), likely reflecting the higher incidence of dysfunctional voiding in girls and idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder in boys., Conclusions: Active bowel dysfunction was seen in half of the children with a lower urinary tract condition. Constipation was more common in patients with dysfunctional voiding, while encopresis was significantly increased in those with idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder and in those with dysfunctional voiding, severe urgency and detrusor overactivity. Anticholinergics, despite their constipating effect, given for treatment of detrusor overactivity resolved encopresis in most children with this bowel dysfunction., (Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Noninvasive uroflow with simultaneous electromyography can measure electromyographic lag time, ie the interval between the start of pelvic floor relaxation and the start of urine flow (normally 2 to 6 seconds). Intuitively one would expect that in patients experiencing urgency secondary to detrusor overactivity the lag time would be short or even a negative value. We studied whether short electromyographic lag time on uroflow with electromyography actually correlates with documented detrusor overactivity on urodynamics., Materials and Methods: We reviewed 2 separate and distinct cohorts of 50 neurologically and anatomically normal children with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms who were evaluated by uroflow with simultaneous electromyography and videourodynamics. Group 1 consisted of 30 boys and 20 girls (mean age 7.8 years, range 4 to 19) selected based on electromyographic lag time of 0 seconds or less on screening uroflow with electromyography who subsequently underwent videourodynamics. Group 2 consisted of 14 boys and 36 girls (median age 8.4 years, range 5 to 18) selected based on the presence of detrusor overactivity on videourodynamics whose screening uroflow with electromyography was then reviewed. Correlations between short electromyographic lag time and videourodynamically proved detrusor overactivity were analyzed., Results: For group 1 urodynamics confirmed the presence of detrusor overactivity in all patients with an electromyographic lag time of 0 seconds or less. For group 2 mean ± SD electromyographic lag time was 0.1 ± 1.7 seconds, and 35 patients (70%) with urodynamically proved detrusor overactivity had a lag time of 0 seconds or less., Conclusions: In patients with lower urinary tract symptoms an electromyographic lag time of 0 seconds or less is 100% predictive of detrusor overactivity. This short electromyographic lag time has 100% specificity and 70% sensitivity for diagnosing detrusor overactivity (88% if less than 2 seconds). Thus, diagnosing the presence or absence of detrusor overactivity in most children with lower urinary tract symptoms and a quiet pelvic floor during voiding can be done reliably via uroflow with simultaneous electromyography., (Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Worldwide, uroflowmetry without simultaneous electromyography is often the only testing performed during the initial assessment of children with lower urinary tract symptoms. Various alterations in uroflow pattern are thought to indicate particular types of lower urinary tract conditions, specifically staccato uroflow indicating dysfunctional voiding and intermittent/fractionated uroflow indicating detrusor underactivity. We determined how reliable uroflow pattern alone is as a surrogate for simultaneously measured pelvic floor electromyography activity during voiding, and how well staccato and interrupted uroflow actually correlate with the diagnoses they are presumed to represent., Materials and Methods: We reviewed uroflow/electromyography studies performed during the initial evaluation of 388 consecutive neurologically and anatomically normal patients with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms. We identified those with staccato, interrupted/fractionated and mixed uroflow based on current International Children's Continence Society guidelines., Results: A total of 69 girls (58.5%) and 49 boys (41.5%) met inclusion criteria. Staccato uroflow was noted in 60 patients, interrupted/fractionated uroflow in 28 and a combination in 30. An active electromyography during voiding confirmed the diagnosis of dysfunctional voiding in 33.3% of patients with staccato, 46.4% with interrupted/fractionated and 50% with mixed uroflow patterns., Conclusions: Diagnoses based on uroflow pattern appearance without simultaneous electromyography to support them can be misleading, and reliance on uroflow pattern alone can lead to overdiagnoses of dysfunctional voiding and detrusor underactivity. When assessing patients with uroflow, an accompanying simultaneous pelvic floor electromyography is of utmost importance for improving diagnostic accuracy and thereby allowing for the most appropriate therapy., (Copyright © 2012 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Noninvasive uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography is useful to triage cases of lower urinary tract symptoms into 4 urodynamically defined conditions, especially when incorporating short and long electromyography lag times in the analysis. We determined the prevalence of these 4 conditions at a single referral institution and the usefulness of uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography and electromyography lag time to confirm the diagnosis, guide treatment and monitor response., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 100 consecutive normal children who presented with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms, underwent uroflowmetry with electromyography as part of the initial evaluation and were diagnosed with 1 of 4 conditions based on certain uroflowmetry/electromyography features. The conditions included 1) dysfunctional voiding--active pelvic floor electromyography during voiding with or without staccato flow, 2a) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder-A--a quiet pelvic floor during voiding and shortened lag time (less than 2 seconds), 2b) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder-B--a quiet pelvic floor with a normal lag time, 3) detrusor underutilization disorder--volitionally deferred voiding with expanded bladder capacity but a quiet pelvic floor, and 4) primary bladder neck dysfunction--prolonged lag time (greater than 6 seconds) and a depressed, right shifted uroflowmetry curve with a quiet pelvic floor during voiding. Treatment was tailored to the underlying condition in each patient., Results: The group consisted of 50 males and 50 females with a mean age of 8 years (range 3 to 18). Dysfunctional voiding was more common in females (p <0.05) while idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder-B and primary bladder neck dysfunction were more common in males (p <0.01). With treatment uroflowmetry parameters normalized for all types. Electromyography lag time increased in idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder-A cases and decreased in primary bladder neck dysfunction cases., Conclusions: Noninvasive uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography offers an excellent alternative to invasive urodynamics to diagnose 4 urodynamically defined conditions. It identifies the most appropriate therapy for the specific condition and objectively monitors the treatment response., (Copyright © 2011 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We determined if there were any unique findings regarding specific clinical manifestations and videourodynamics among our patients with nonneurogenic voiding disorders., Materials and Methods: A cohort of 237 normal children with lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated by videourodynamics and uroflow/electromyogram, and divided into 4 groups based on the specific urodynamic findings 1) dysfunctional voiding (active electromyogram during voiding with or without detrusor overactivity), 2) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (detrusor overactivity on urodynamics but quiet electromyogram during voiding), 3) detrusor underutilization disorder (willful infrequent but otherwise normal voiding) and 4) primary bladder neck dysfunction. Association of lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary tract infection, vesicoureteral reflux and abnormal urodynamic parameters within each condition was compared., Results: The only strong correlation between a particular symptom and a specific condition was between hesitancy and primary bladder neck dysfunction. Urgency was reported to some degree with all 4 conditions. The most common abnormal urodynamic finding was detrusor overactivity, which was seen in 91% of patients with dysfunctional voiding. The highest detrusor pressures were seen in dysfunctional voiding during voiding and in idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder during detrusor overactivity. Vesicoureteral reflux was seen in a third of children with dysfunctional voiding or idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder, in all 8 boys with a history of urinary tract infection and in 51% of patients with febrile or recurrent urinary tract infections with lower urinary tract symptoms when not infected. Bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and bowel dysfunction were most common in dysfunctional voiding., Conclusions: On objective urodynamic assessment pediatric nonneurogenic voiding dysfunction can essentially be divided into 4 specific conditions. These conditions have distinct urodynamic features that distinguish them from each other, as opposed to their clinical features (particularly lower urinary tract symptoms), which frequently overlap and are not as defining as they are often presumed to be., (Copyright © 2010 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Primary bladder neck dysfunction is a nonneurogenic voiding disorder frequently overlooked in pediatrics. The diagnosis classically is made by videourodynamics but can also be made with noninvasive uroflow studies with pelvic floor electromyography. We report our long-term results using alpha-blocker therapy in patients with primary bladder neck dysfunction., Materials and Methods: We reviewed 51 neurologically normal children (mean age 11.6 years, range 3.5 to 17.8) meeting criteria for primary bladder neck dysfunction who underwent alpha-blocker therapy for at least 1 year. All patients were symptomatic with abnormal flow parameters and an electromyogram lag time of 6 seconds or more on initial uroflow/electromyography. Pretreatment and on-treatment uroflow/electromyogram studies were performed in all patients. Average and maximum uroflow rates, electromyogram lag times and post-void residual volumes were compared., Results: After a mean followup of 46.2 months (range 12 to 124) mean average and maximum uroflow rates improved from 7.0 to 12.4 cc per second and from 12.4 to 20.3 cc per second, respectively, while mean electromyogram lag time decreased from 30.8 to 5.8 seconds (all p <0.01). Of the patients 85% reported subjective symptomatic relief. A total of 15 patients (29%) stopped alpha-blocker therapy for various reasons, none related to side effects. Repeat off-treatment uroflow/electromyogram studies showed that measured parameters reverted to pretreatment values (all p <0.05). Eight of these 15 patients eventually resumed alpha-blocker therapy, while only 3 remained asymptomatic off of the alpha-blocker., Conclusions: alpha-Blocker therapy continues to benefit children with primary bladder neck dysfunction even after 3 years of treatment. Few patients can come off of alpha-blocker therapy without returning to their pretreatment state, suggesting the condition is likely chronic in most patients., (Copyright 2010 American Urological Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Increased interest in pediatric nonneurogenic voiding disorders (NNVDs), urodynamic testing and therapeutic options make this a timely topic for review., Recent Findings: The major themes covered this year included diagnosis of NNVD by symptomatology and relationship to subsequent urodynamic findings and treatment outcomes; effect of bladder volumes and overdistention, test position, catheter size, catheter in or out during voiding and sex on flow rate, flow pattern, voiding pressures, presence of overactivity and interpretation of findings on both urodynamic studies and uroflow testing; associations between bowel disorders (constipation and encopresis) and NNVD, associations between behavioral disorders and bowel disorders as reflected by treatment response and effect on behavior; efficacy studies on symptom-directed therapies in NNVD, comparison of different biofeedback programs for treating dysfunctional voiding, Botox injections for overactive bladder and an adult anticholinergic for overactive bladder that underwent testing in children; enuresis topics included anticholinergics for treating monosyptomatic enuresis refractory to desmopressin, prevalence of enuresis when screening large numbers of healthy school-age children and its association with certain family characteristics and other bowel and bladder complaints and an update on the association of fluctuation of vasopressin and nightly urine output and its role in patient selection for desmopressin therapy., Summary: While some studies simply validated the past work of others, there were several that dispelled beliefs by demonstrating the inaccuracy of predicting voiding disorders on the basis of uroflow alone or the minimal effect of catheter and test position on urodynamic results; behavior disorders require special care but are not an impediment to successful treatment. Newer therapies, including Botox injections and new or broadened indications for existing anticholinergics, in treating the overactive bladder in children need closer scrutiny.

Primary bladder neck dysfunction is a non-neurogenic voiding disorder commonly diagnosed in young and middle age adult men, but frequently overlooked in children. Because these children typically present with lower urinary tract symptoms that also are associated with other more common forms of dysfunctional voiding, the diagnosis may be missed and treated with a variety of empiric modalities that ultimately fail. Although its underlying pathogenesis remains debated, the hallmark of the diagnosis is a failure of the bladder neck to properly open and allow for unimpeded urine flow. Videourodynamic evaluation is the only diagnostic tool that can urodynamically document the obstructive pressure/flow parameters of the condition while simultaneously localizing the functional obstruction to the bladder neck fluoroscopically. This article reviews the clinical and urodynamic findings of this entity in children and adolescents and our experience with a adrenergic antagonists, the current approach in medical therapy.

Purpose: Little has been reported on the occurrence of primary bladder neck dysfunction (PBND) in the pediatric patient, particularly as it relates to the use of alpha-blocker therapy, the mainstay of medical therapy in adults. Diagnosed on videourodynamics (VUDS), PBND is characterized by the constellation of prolonged opening time, incomplete bladder neck funneling, quiet pelvic floor electromyogram (EMG) during voiding and abnormal pressure flow parameters. We report the VUDS findings in PBND and our experience with alpha-blocker therapy in the pediatric and adolescent population., Materials and Methods: A total of 34 symptomatic patients met all VUDS criteria for PBND, and alpha-blocker therapy was initiated in 26. All patients were monitored with serial noninvasive uroflow studies with pelvic floor EMG (uroflow/EMG) before and after initiation of alpha-blocker therapy. Objective clinical response was assessed by measuring average and maximum uroflow rates, post-void residual urine volumes and pelvic floor EMG lag time, a correlate of opening time., Results: A total of 26 patients with PBND (20 males, 6 females) 5.5 to 20 years old at initiation of therapy (mean age 12.8 years) were treated with alpha-blockers. Mean average and maximum uroflow rates improved from 5.5 to 12.6 cc per second and from 10.3 to 19.7 cc per second, respectively, while mean EMG lag time decreased from 24.4 to 5.7 seconds and post-void residual urine volume from 98.9 to 8.9 cc (all p <0.001). Mean followup was 31 months, with all patients reporting significant symptomatic improvement. No patient experienced any major adverse side effects. The 8 patients with PBND who refused alpha-blocker therapy had no improvement symptomatically or urodynamically with time, and those who discontinued therapy had a return to pretreatment values., Conclusions: PBND is an often overlooked but significant cause of voiding dysfunction in children and adolescents. In our experience alpha-blockers are clinically effective therapy for PBND and have been reasonably well tolerated in our young patients for what may possibly be a lifelong problem.

Purpose: One of the key findings for making the diagnosis of primary bladder neck dysfunction (PBND) on videourodynamics (VUDS) is prolongation of the time between the start of a voluntary detrusor contraction and the start of urine flow (opening time). Since normally this dynamic event is immediately preceded by pelvic floor relaxation, we determined if the interval between pelvic floor relaxation on pelvic floor electromyography (EMG) and the start of flow (pelvic floor EMG lag time), approximated opening time., Materials and Methods: Opening time measured on VUDS and pelvic floor EMG lag time measured on noninvasive uroflowmetry/EMG were compared in 22 consecutive patients with a mean age of 13.8 years diagnosed with PBND and a control group of 17 normal children. In addition, 19 patients with PBND were placed on alpha-blocker therapy, and pretreatment and on treatment uroflowmetry and pelvic floor EMG lag time values were compared., Results: Mean opening time and mean pelvic floor EMG lag time were statistically indistinguishable from each other in the PBND and normal groups (27.4 vs 23.9 and 1.1 vs 1.3 seconds, respectively, p >0.550), but they differed significantly between the normal and PBND groups (p <0.001). On alpha-blocker therapy a decrease in mean pelvic floor EMG lag time from 24.47 to 6.67 seconds (p <0.001) corresponded with improved flow parameters, while no improvement was noted in untreated patients., Conclusions: Pelvic floor EMG lag time directly correlates with opening time and, when prolonged and associated with abnormal uroflowmetry, it is highly suggestive of PBND, thereby, justifying more invasive evaluation with VUDS or the initiation of empirical drug therapy. Most importantly, it provides an objective means of monitoring treatment response in a disorder that often has lingering symptoms.

Purpose: Persistent hydroureteronephrosis (HUN) is often seen in boys with a history of a posterior urethral valve even years after valve ablation and it is often assumed to represent residual stretching. We determined the association of HUN with urodynamic abnormalities, the effect on HUN of treating these abnormalities and when persistent HUN could be considered residual stretching., Materials and Methods: Of 71 patients with a posterior urethral valve evaluated after valve ablation 20 (28.2%) had persistent HUN in a total of 32 renal units (RUs). The degree of HUN was graded as mild, moderate or severe. Videourodynamics were performed in all patients with persistent HUN and abnormal urodynamic findings were aggressively treated. HUN was then reassessed and categorized as resolved, improved or unchanged., Results: Abnormal urodynamic findings, primarily hypocompliance and instability, were noted in all 20 patients with HUN. All patients compliant with treatment showed dramatic improvement or complete resolution of abnormal urodynamic parameters. The 32 RUs with persistent HUN were initially graded as mild (8), moderate (13) and severe (11). HUN resolved in 15 RUs and improved to a lower grade in 11 in 26 of the 27 RUs (96.3%) in the 17 patients compliant with treatment. The 3 boys (5 RUs) who were noncompliant with treatment had neither decreased HUN nor improved urodynamic parameters. The 12 of 27 RUs (44.4%) in the treatment group in which HUN failed to resolve completely had no distal ureteral obstruction or identifiable persistent urodynamic abnormality and, thus, they can be labeled as having residual stretching., Conclusions: Persistent HUN following valve ablation should not be considered residual dilatation until a thorough urodynamic evaluation has been done and any abnormal parameters are addressed. With correction of these abnormal parameters one can expect significant lessening of HUN and hopefully improved long-term preservation of renal function.

Purpose: It has been suggested that hypocontractility or myogenic failure develops in older boys with a history of 9 posterior urethral valved as the hyperactive, poorly compliant bladders decompensate with age. Also a much higher prevalence of myogenic failure has been reported than we have observed. We determine the prevalence of myogenic failure in boys with a posterior urethral valve and whether myogenic failure was a consequence of earlier detrusor instability or diminished compliance., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the urodynamic findings of 51 boys after transurethral ablation of a posterior urethral valve. Group 1 (longitudinal group) consisted of 11 boys 12 to 19 years old who had undergone at least 1 serial urodynamic study before and 1 after age 10 years. Group 2 (younger group) included 33 boys whose urodynamic testing was performed before age 10 years. Group 3 (older group) comprised 7 previously treated boys whose initial urodynamic study was done after age 12 years., Results: Overall, myogenic failure was noted in 3 (all group 1) of 51 (5.9%) patients. Each of the 3 boys initially had a hypocompliant bladder, and myogenic failure developed only after institution of anticholinergic therapy and resolved once anticholinergics were discontinued. An additional 34 boys treated with anticholinergics did not have myogenic failure. No tendency towards myogenic failure or marked increase in bladder capacity for age was noted in the older boys., Conclusions: In our experience myogenic failure is uncommon and more likely secondary to anticholinergic therapy than a preordained consequence of valve disease. We postulate that our proactive, early aggressive use of urodynamic studies and pharmacotherapy to identify and manage the secondary effects of valve disease reduces the incidence of myogenic failure.

Objectives: Biofeedback therapy has been recognized as a treatment option for children with classic dysfunctional voiding (DV) where there is inadequate pelvic floor relaxation during voiding. However, there are few articles that discuss methodology and limited sites where it is available. In the hope of making biofeedback a more practical and accessible option, we report our indications, easy to duplicate methodology, and results., Methods: Twenty-one consecutive children diagnosed with DV refractory to standard therapy were enrolled in our biofeedback program. Therapy consisted of extensive age-appropriate explanations of DV and demonstrations of normal and abnormal voiding patterns. Cyclic uroflow studies with pelvic floor electromyography are performed, which the child monitors on analog chart and audio recorders. The child returns weekly until consistent relaxation of the pelvic floor during voiding is demonstrated. Timing between sessions is then increased to monitor progress and retention of concepts previously taught., Results: An excellent clinical response was one in which there was consistent relaxation of the pelvic floor throughout voiding, normal flow pattern, and no residual urine volume (urodynamic response), coupled with profound resolution of voiding symptoms. Seventeen of 21 (81%) had an excellent response, 3 (14%) had a fair response, and 1 (5%) was too inconsistent to rate. The average number of sessions to achieve a consistent urodynamic response was 3.7 (range 2 to 14) and full clinical response somewhat longer. Average follow-up since beginning therapy has been 34 months (range 14 to 51)., Conclusions: Biofeedback therapy is an effective method for treating DV with poor pelvic floor relaxation. Although initially labor intensive, it yields sustained positive results in most patients in a short time.

Purpose: We report our experience with the use of desmopressin in the spina bifida population that is dry during the day but wet at night., Materials and Methods: From 1994 to 1996, 18 patients with myelodysplasia were treated with desmopressin for persistent nocturnal enuresis. Initial dose was 40 mcg. before bedtime, decreased by intervals of 10 mcg. every 3 weeks. Patients were kept on the minimum dose required to keep them dry. We reviewed morning catheterized volumes, side effects and dosages needed to stay dry, and compared augmented patients with nonaugmented patients., Results: Of 18 patients 14 (78%) reported marked improvement in nocturnal enuresis. Of 6 augmented patients 5 (83%) are dry compared to 9 of 12 nonaugmented patients (75%). There were no adverse side effects from the use of desmopressin. Average dose to stay dry was 20 mcg. for augmented and 30 mcg. for nonaugmented patients. Of the 4 patients who had persistent nocturnal incontinence despite desmopressin 3 (75%) became dry with a single catheterization in the middle of the night., Conclusions: Desmopressin is successful in treating nocturnal enuresis in the spina bifida patient with diurnal continence.

Purpose: Abnormal urodynamic findings are common in boys with a history of posterior urethral valves. However, to our knowledge there are few reports on the results of treating these abnormal findings. We analyzed the treatment of abnormal urodynamic parameters and its outcome in 21 boys who underwent valve ablation., Materials and Methods: After valve ablation multichannel urodynamic studies were performed in 31 boys, including 21 in whom studies were done before and after therapy was started for abnormal parameters. Detrusor instability and impaired bladder compliance were treated with anticholinergics or augmentation cystoplasty, and impaired detrusor contractility was managed with clean intermittent catheterization., Results: Before therapy 17 of 21 boys had impaired compliance and detrusor instability, 2 had impaired compliance without instability and 2 had instability alone. After treatment 8 boys had impaired compliance and 4 had detrusor instability. After anticholinergics were initiated new onset myogenic failure in 2 boys necessitated clean intermittent catheterization. Of the 13 patients who presented with urinary incontinence 10 became dry and 3 had improvement with therapy. Vesicoureteral reflux in 10 boys at the time of the initial urodynamic study resolved in 7 with anticholinergic medication and in 1 after clean intermittent catheterization was begun for severely impaired compliance. All 21 boys were treated with anticholinergics and 2 were ultimately treated with augmentation cystoplasty. Clean intermittent catheterization was also instituted in 5 patients, including the 2 who required clean intermittent catheterization after myogenic failure developed. Five boys with high voiding pressures were found to have outlet obstruction due to residual valve tissue in 2, bladder neck obstruction in 2 and urethral stricture in 1 despite normal flow rates in 2., Conclusions: Urodynamic studies are helpful in guiding therapy in boys after valve ablation. Anticholinergic therapy can improve compliance, decrease detrusor instability, improve continence and eliminate vesicoureteral reflux in the majority of boys, although there is an associated risk of myogenic failure. Flow rates and fluoroscopic voiding studies are often unable to detect outlet obstruction and must be obtained in conjunction with voiding pressure measurements to make this diagnosis.

Purpose: There is no uniform agreement on how to manage the unilateral nonfunctioning or poorly functioning kidney associated with posterior urethral valves. We studied the results of treatment of our patients to make recommendations regarding management of these kidneys., Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 13 boys with a history of posterior urethral valves and a unilateral nonfunctioning or poorly functioning kidney, defined as less than 10% of total renal function on 99mtechnetium dimercapto-succinic acid renal scans. Variables investigated included pyelonephritis, hypertension, vesicoureteral reflux, nephroureterectomy, ureteral reimplantation and spontaneous cessation of reflux. We also evaluated how the management of abnormal urodynamic parameters influenced the results of reimplantation or medically induced cessation of reflux., Results: Three of the 6 boys with grade 5 reflux ipsilateral to the poorly functioning kidney required nephroureterectomy at a mean age of 21 months because of recurrent urinary tract infections. Another 4 boys underwent successful ureteral reimplantation, including 2 who had bilateral grade 5 reflux, and 2 who had ipsilateral grade 4 reflux, and grade 3 (1) and grade 2 (1) contralateral reflux. Of 4 boys ipsilateral grade 3 reflux in 3 and bilateral grade 5 reflux in 1 disappeared without surgery after treatment of urodynamic abnormalities. Two patients with poorly functioning kidneys and no reflux did not undergo surgery. Overall 10 of the 13 poorly functioning renal units were not removed, and these patients were free of pyelonephritis and hypertension. Ureteral reimplantation (4 ipsilateral and 3 contralateral) was performed only after urodynamic abnormalities were addressed. All reimplantations were successful., Conclusions: Based on our results we believed that unilateral poorly functioning kidneys in patients with posterior urethral valves can be safely preserved in select patients without hypertension and pyelonephritis. Reimplantation to correct reflux may be preferable to nephroureterectomy in specific situations, such as when contralateral function is suboptimal and the contralateral ureter needs reimplantation. When indicated, reimplantation can be performed successfully if abnormal urodynamic parameters are addressed preoperatively. In fact, treating abnormal urodynamic findings may lead to spontaneous reflux resolution.

Purpose: Persistent voiding dysfunction following transurethral resection of the prostate is not uncommon. We determined the correlation, if any, between the subjective complaints in men with voiding dysfunction after transurethral resection of the prostate and the urodynamic findings., Materials and Methods: A total of 50 consecutive men with voiding dysfunction following transurethral resection of the prostate was evaluated with the American Urological Association symptom index and multichannel urodynamics. Patients with urethral stricture, urinary retention or prostate cancer were excluded from the study. Urodynamic parameters assessed included detrusor instability, bladder capacity, sphincteric insufficiency using the Valsalva leak point pressure, voiding pressure-flow studies as determined by the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram (obstructed, unobstructed or equivocal) and post-void residual., Results: Mean patient age was 71 years and mean interval from last transurethral resection of the prostate was 58 months (range 2 to 252). Mean total, obstructive and irritative symptom scores were 16.3, 5.8 and 10.5, respectively. A total of 20 patients (40%) complained of incontinence (14 urge and 6 stress). According to the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram 62% of the cases were unobstructed, 16% obstructed and 22% equivocal. Urodynamic abnormalities were demonstrated in 43 patients (86%), and included detrusor instability (54%), obstruction with or without detrusor instability (16%), sphincteric insufficiency (8%), detrusor hypocontractility (4%) and sensory urgency (4%). There was no difference in the total, irritative or obstructive scores among obstructed, unobstructed or equivocal cases. Similarly there was no difference in scores among patients with and without detrusor instability. Age, number of transurethral resections and interval since last transurethral resection were unrelated to pressure-flow results or detrusor instability. Post-void residual was significantly greater in obstructed cases and bladder capacity was significantly less in those with detrusor instability. The cause of incontinence was demonstrated in 19 of 20 patients (95%): 4 (20%) had sphincteric insufficiency and 15 (75%) had detrusor instability., Conclusions: Symptoms are unreliable in predicting urodynamic findings with respect to obstruction and detrusor instability. There is a high incidence of detrusor instability in patients with voiding dysfunction after transurethral resection of the prostate. Urodynamic obstruction is a less likely occurrence.

Purpose: We report a new modification of the technique used to measure detrusor leak point pressure in patients with myelodysplasia and discuss its clinical implications., Materials and Methods: We assessed detrusor leak point pressure during standard multichannel urodynamics in 77 patients with spina bifida. At leakage and in the absence of a detrusor contraction detrusor pressure is noted and the catheter is removed. With the cessation of leakage the catheter is reinserted and detrusor pressure is again noted. This cycle is repeated several times and the average difference is noted. In 23 patients there was no identifiable detrusor leak point pressure. The remaining 54 patients with a detrusor leak point pressure are included in this report. Also reviewed were renal ultrasound studies and voiding cystourethrograms for each patient., Results: Three groups of patients were identified: 1 (20 patients)-detrusor leak point pressure greater than 40 and less than 40 cm. water with the catheter in and out, respectively; 2 (29)-detrusor leak point pressure consistently less than 40 cm. water with the catheter in and out, and 3 (5)-detrusor leak point pressure consistently greater than 40 cm. water with the catheter in and out. There was a 5% incidence of upper tract changes in group 1 and a 40% incidence in group 3. All patients in group 2 had normal upper tracts., Conclusions: A difference in upper tract changes was noted between groups 1 and 3, although in both groups detrusor leak point pressure was greater than 40 cm. water using standard measurement techniques and similar rates of upper tract changes would have been expected. Our modification may be a more accurate measurement of detrusor leak point pressure. It provides a better means of identifying patients at increased risk for renal deterioration and assessing outlet resistance.

Purpose: We correlated symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in women with intrinsic urethral function, as measured by Valsalva leak point pressure. In addition, we assessed the effects of urethral hypermobility, baseline resting abdominal pressure, patient age and menopausal status on Valsalva leak point pressure., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 64 consecutive women (mean age 50 years, range 20 to 79) with complaints of stress urinary incontinence. Initially the patient history was obtained and the subjective degree of stress urinary incontinence was graded as 1, 2 or 3 according to the SEAPI-QMN classification. Multichannel video urodynamics were then performed. At a volume of 150 to 200 ml. (or half bladder capacity when functional capacity was less than 150 ml.) filling was stopped. Resting, coughing and progressive Valsalva maneuvers were performed to determine Valsalva leak point pressure and the presence of urethral hypermobility. Valsalva leak point pressure was defined as the minimum total vesical pressure required to cause urinary incontinence in the absence of a detrusor contraction. Urodynamics were completed and detrusor instability or stress induced instability was noted., Results: Of the 64 women 52 (81.3%) had stress urinary incontinence. The exact test for trend demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the number of patients with a Valsalva leak point pressure of 90 cm. water or less (p = 0.0002) and 60 cm. water or less (p = 0.0002) among the 3 symptom groups. There was no correlation between Valsalva leak point pressure and resting vesical (which equals abdominal) pressure, patient age or menopausal status, or urge incontinence or detrusor instability among the 3 groups., Conclusions: The subjective degree of stress urinary incontinence can predict intrinsic urethral function as measured by Valsalva leak point pressure. Higher grades of stress urinary incontinence have a higher likelihood of a low Valsalva leak point pressure. Many women with grade 2 or 3 stress urinary incontinence have a Valsalva leak point pressure of 90 cm. water or less despite urethral hypermobility and they may have a component of intrinsic urethral deficiency.

Purpose: The etiology of voiding dysfunction was determined in men after a cerebrovascular accident who were at risk for obstructive uropathy to evaluate whether the cause of voiding dysfunction could be predicted by the type (obstructive or irritative) or onset of symptoms., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 38 men with complaints of voiding dysfunction following a cerebrovascular accident. All patients were of the age when bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia would otherwise be prevalent. After a comprehensive history and physical examination, all patients underwent multichannel urodynamic studies at a medium fill rate (20 to 50 ml. per minute). Findings were classified by the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram as obstruction, no obstruction or equivocal., Results: Mean patient age was 70 years (range 54 to 87). Patients were grouped according to the presenting voiding complaints (purely irritative in 42%, purely obstructive in 34% or mixed in 24%). In 34 patients (89%) the onset of symptoms paralleled the occurrence of the cerebrovascular accident. Detrusor hyperreflexia was noted in 82% of the patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of detrusor hyperreflexia among the 3 symptom groups (Fisher's exact test). Pressure-flow analysis clearly showed obstruction in 24 patients (63%), no obstruction in 9 (24%) and equivocal results in 5 (13%) according to the nomogram. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of obstruction among the 3 symptom groups (Fisher's exact test)., Conclusions: Presenting symptoms did not predict the urodynamic findings of bladder outlet obstruction or detrusor hyperreflexia. The significant incidence of onset of symptoms after stroke suggests that the cerebrovascular accident induced voiding dysfunction in the face of preexisting bladder outlet obstruction may exacerbate the symptoms of the latter condition or vice versa.

Independent rectal contractions are frequently noted when performing multichannel urodynamics and are often considered to be artifactual. In an effort to determine if this activity is indeed significant, we reviewed 430 consecutive multichannel urodynamic studies performed on 289 patients. All studies were performed using an analog recorder at 0.5 mm/sec paper speed. Multichannel pressures included total vesical pressure measured by a urethral catheter, total abdominal pressure measured by a rectal balloon catheter, subtracted detrusor pressure (vesical minus abdominal), and uroflow measurement when possible. Rectal contractions were defined as multiple fluctuations in abdominal pressure as measured by the rectal balloon catheter which were independent of changes in total vesical pressure. These fluctuations could not be reproduced by abdominal stressing or Kegel-type maneuvers. Contractions were noted to be of high or low amplitude, continuous or intermittent. Of the 289 patients, 109 (38%) had a study positive for rectal contractions. Similarly, 168 of 430 studies (38%) were positive. In patients with neurologic disease, rectal contractions were noted in 61/120 (51%). In patients with no history of neurologic disease, 48/169 (29%) had rectal contractions (P < 0.001). Furthermore, when patients without a history of neurologic disease were evaluated with respect to the presence of detrusor instability, a positive study was noted in 27/67 (40%) with instability but in only 21/102 (21%) of patients without instability (P = 0.005). Rectal contractions also occurred with a higher frequency in patients with bladder hyperactivity of any etiology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The AUA symptom index is widely used to access patients with suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In order to determine how well symptoms as assessed by this index correlate with urodynamic findings, we evaluated 83 patients referred to our urology clinics with symptoms of BPH. All patients completed the AUA symptom index and then underwent a multichannel urodynamic evaluation. Patients were classified as obstructed, unobstructed, or equivocal according to the Abrams Griffiths nomogram. The AUA symptom index was recorded as the total score and, for purposes of symptom classification, further subdivided into an obstructive score (questions 3, 5, and 6) and an irritative score (questions 1, 2, 4, and 7). The mean age of the 83 patients was 67 (45-84). The mean total AUA symptom score was 16.6 (6-34), mean obstructive score was 6.1 (0-15), and the mean irritative score 10.4 (3-20). Pressure flow analysis using the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram classified 28 patients (34%) as obstructed, 17 (20%) as unobstructed, and 38 (46%) as equivocal. Using the analysis of variance procedure (ANOVA) there was no statistically significant difference in the mean total (P = 0.446), obstructive (P = 0.979), or irritative (P = 0.136) scores. Detrusor instability was present in 45 patients (54%). While total and obstructive scores were not significantly different in patients with detrusor instability vs. those with stable bladders, irritative scores were higher in patients with instability (P = 0.028) using the T-test procedure. Using ANOVA, the difference in post void residual (PVR) between the groups was not quite statistically significant (P = 0.057).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)