Effects of biochemical changes to filling media during urodynamic testing in women with lower urinary tract symptoms

Abstract

Objective: Detrusor muscle is sensitive, in vitro, to changes in the chemistry of its environment. However, the extent to which the intravesical environment influences bladder function is unclear. This study was designed to assess the impact of changes to the intravesical biochemical environment on urodynamic testing, compared with a normal saline control.

Material and methods: Ninety-four women were studied with repeat fill urodynamics, using a normal saline control and test solutions (hyperosmolar, a solution intended to cause extracellular alkalosis and solutions designed to affect both intracellular and extracellular pH, and high potassium solution).

Results: There were no significant effects of any changes in filling solution.

Conclusions: Urodynamic testing was unaffected by changes to intravesical chemistry that are known to affect detrusor cells in vitro. This suggests that the homoeostatic mechanisms of the bladder are able to maintain a stable microenvironment for detrusor cells despite changes to bladder contents.