The role of urodynamics in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in women

Abstract

Purpose of review: Urodynamic investigation was developed as an extension of patient history and physical examination in order to reveal the pathology of a patient's complaints. Much progress in standardizing definitions and procedures has been made in recent years. In particular, stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder can be differentiated with urodynamics. The developed parameters, however, cannot distinguish the various types of stress urinary incontinence. Moreover the definition and diagnosis of voiding dysfunction is not clear. Finally our understanding of bladder sensations and the impact on voiding behaviour has only started to emerge. This review is about last year's publications that focus on urodynamics and lower urinary tract symptoms in women.

Recent findings: Defining bladder outlet obstruction is based on voiding pressure, urinary flow speed and residual urine but standardization is lacking. Urodynamics to reveal occult stress urinary incontinence in patients with pelvic organ prolapse needs standardization of the reducing manoeuvres. The quest for urodynamic tools for distinguishing intrinsic sphincter deficiency from urethral hypermobility continues. Urodynamics are still not good enough to discriminate between treatment options for stress urinary incontinence. The use of urodynamics in overactive bladder is developing and has elicited new findings. Voiding habit seems to be independent from bladder sensations. Also bladder sensations appear to be imperfectly correlated with bladder filling. Even bladder volumes do not predict entirely bladder fullness sensations.

Summary: In order to use urodynamics as a proper clinical tool, defining subtypes of stress urinary incontinence and standardization of urodynamics in pelvic organ prolapse and bladder outlet obstruction in women is needed.