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Review

Incontinence and Stream Abnormalities

J. Maxwell White JR, David P. O'Brien III
H Kenneth Walker  1 , W Dallas Hall  1 , J Willis Hurst  1
, editors.
In: Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 185.
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Review

Incontinence and Stream Abnormalities

J. Maxwell White JR et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Urinary flow is defined in terms of the size and force of the patient's stream. The caliber and force of the urinary stream vary greatly. The normal urinary stream should be continuous for at least 80% of urination.

Hesitancy is a delay in initiating urination. Intermittency describes a urinary stream that is not continuous. Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine.

Stress incontinence usually results from pelvic relaxation or damage to the urinary sphincter. Urge incontinence is usually secondary to inflammatory changes in the urinary stretch receptors. Overflow incontinence occurs when there is minimal emptying of a distended bladder, leaving a high bladder volume and only a short period before the next urination. Total incontinence implies a continual discharge of urine. Enuresis is involuntary incontinence, but this term is commonly used for nocturnal incontinence while asleep.

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References

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    1. Issacs JH. Stress incontinence: a plan for systematic evaluation. Postgrad Med. 1973;54:102–5. - PubMed
    1. Resnick NM, Yalla SV. Management of urinary incontinence in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:800. - PubMed
    1. Wein AJ. Classification of neurogenic voiding dysfunction. J Urol. 1981;125:605. - PubMed

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