Uro
dynamics
Urodynamics
Urodynamic testing or Urodynamics assesses how the bladder and urethra are coping up with their job of storing and releasing urine.
Urodynamic tests can help in explaining symptoms such as:
- Incontinence
- Frequent urination
- Sudden, strong urges to urinate but nothing comes out
- Problems starting a urine stream
- Painful urination
- Problems emptying the bladder completely
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
Urodynamic test is performed in Urology as a day care procedure. Urodynamics will provide the treating physician with the information necessary to diagnose the cause and nature of a patient’s incontinence, thus deciding about the best treatment options available.
A cystometric test measures how much is the bladder capacity (urine the bladder can hold), how much pressure builds up inside the bladder as it stores urine (filling phase), and how full it is when the urge to urinate begins.
Procedure
At the start of the test a catheter is used to empty the bladder completely. Then a special, smaller catheter is placed in the bladder. This catheter has a pressure-measuring device called a manometer. Another catheter may be placed in the rectum to record pressure there. Once the bladder is emptied completely, the bladder is filled slowly with warm water. During this time, the person is asked to describe how the bladder feels and indicate when the need to urinate arises. When the urge to urinate occurs, the volume of water and the bladder pressure are recorded. The person may be asked to cough or strain during this procedure to see if the bladder pressure changes. A cystometric test can also identify involuntary bladder contractions.
The tests are most often arranged for men with lower urinary tract symptoms and for women with incontinence that has either failed conservative treatment or requires surgery. The most important patients in whom these tests are performed are those with a neuropathy such as spinal injury or any other type of neurological disease.