The clinical value and cost of a district hospital urodynamic unit

Abstract

A retrospective review has shown that urodynamic studies were useful in the diagnosis of 87% of our patients and were diagnostic in 43%. The cost per patient was 43 pounds, which compares favourably with urography (35 pounds) an in-patient cystoscopy (104 pounds). Provided that more than 200 patients a year are studied, the expense and effort of running the urodynamic unit are justified. We now perform urodynamic studies routinely in patients with complex lower urinary tract symptoms, prior to intravenous urography and cystoscopy.