Can we improve our diagnosis of impaired detrusor contractility in women? An ICI-RS 2019 proposal.

INTRODUCTION: Widely accepted consensus terminology and calculations of detrusor contractility in females do not exist but may be useful. We report the output of a proposal session at the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society meeting 2019, addressing the title topic. METHODS: Three formal presentations and a lively discussion addressed several questions including: which is the optimal cutoff value of female bladder voiding efficiency during uroflow to suspect obstruction or detrusor underactivity? Is there a definition of pure underactive and pure obstructed voiding in females? Is there a place to distinguish those relatively obstructed from those relatively underactive females especially in those cases of equivocal obstruction? Current measures of contractility were reviewed for their usefulness in women. RESULTS: No recommendation for a specific index or calculation can be made based on current knowledge. "Contractility" may be context-dependent regarding clinical care, clinical prognostication, and physiologic research. CONCLUSIONS: This group proposes that context-sensitive definitions of "Contractility" deserve attention by international leadership. Cooperative clinical and physiologic expertise will be needed to achieve this goal. Following initial recommendations based on expert opinion, the development of final definitions and measures of contractility should be iterative, based upon validation studies to be considered as part of the definitional process.

Can multicentre urodynamic studies provide high quality evidence for the clinical effectiveness of urodynamics? ICI-RS 2019.

AIMS: Lower urinary tract (LUT) function can be investigated by urodynamic studies (UDS) to establish underlying functional abnormalities in the LUT. A multicentre registry could present an opportunity to improve the scientific evidence base for UDS. During the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) meeting in Bristol, United Kingdom 2019, an expert panel discussed the potential of a multicentre urodynamic registry to improve the quality of urodynamic output. METHODS: the potential importance of a multicentre urodynamic registry, parameter inclusion, quality control, and pitfalls during a registry roll-out were reviewed and discussed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The clinical utility, evaluation, and effectiveness of UDS remain poorly defined due to a lack of high quality evidence and large study populations. Therefore, the ICI-RS proposes formation of a urodynamic panel for future roll-out of a registry. The inclusion of basic parameters was discussed and the essential parameters were defined as well as the potential pitfalls of a registry roll-out. The discussion and recommendations in this paper form the base for future urodynamic registry development.

Psychological comorbidities and functional neurological disorders in women with idiopathic urinary retention: International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) 2019.

AIMS: Chronic urinary retention occurring in young women is poorly understood and a cause may not be found in a majority of cases. Different psychological comorbidities and functional neurological symptom disorders (FNDs) have been reported; however, these have been poorly explored. METHODS: At the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society meeting in 2019, a panel of clinicians generated a proposal to explore the relationship between psychological comorbidities, FNDs, and urinary retention in women with chronic idiopathic urinary retention. RESULTS: Psychological comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, and FNDs such as leg weakness and loss of consciousness, have been reported in women with idiopathic urinary retention. Individuals react differently to physical and emotional stressors, and experimental models have demonstrated a relationship between the stress response and developing urinary retention. Trauma, particularly sexual trauma, may be a shared risk factor for developing psychological comorbidities and urinary retention. Children with voiding postponement often suffer from psychological comorbidities and behavioral disturbances; however, there is no evidence to suggest that this progresses to urinary retention in adulthood. "Psychogenic urinary retention" has been described in the urology and psychiatry literature in the past, and anecdotal cases of successful voiding following psychotherapy have been reported, though the true pathophysiology of this entity is uncertain. CONCLUSION: Psychological and functional disorder comorbidities are reported in women with chronic urinary retention. The nature of the association between urinary retention and functional neurological disorder comorbidities needs to be further explored in terms of a disorder of bladder-brain interaction.

The International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for adult male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: In the development of terminology of the lower urinary tract, due to its increasing complexity, the terminology for male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction needs to be updated using a male-specific approach and via a clinically-based consensus report. METHODS: This report combines the input of members of the Standardisation Committee of the International Continence Society (ICS) in a Working Group with recognized experts in the field, assisted by many external referees. Appropriate core clinical categories and a subclassification were developed to give a numeric coding to each definition. An extensive process of 22 rounds of internal and external review was developed to exhaustively examine each definition, with decision-making by collective opinion (consensus). RESULTS: A Terminology Report for male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction, encompassing around 390 separate definitions/descriptors, has been developed. It is clinically-based with the most common diagnoses defined. Clarity and user-friendliness have been key aims to make it interpretable by practitioners and trainees in all the different specialty groups involved in male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor dysfunction. Male-specific imaging (ultrasound, radiology, CT, and MRI) has been a major addition whilst appropriate figures have been included to supplement and help clarify the text. CONCLUSIONS: A consensus-based Terminology Report for male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction has been produced aimed at being a significant aid to clinical practice and a stimulus for research.

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery with or without Completion Total Mesorectal Excision for T2 and T3 Rectal Carcinoma.

AIM: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is used for the resection of large rectal adenomas and well or moderately differentiated T1 carcinomas. Due to difficulty in preoperative staging, final pathology may reveal a carcinoma not suitable for TEM. Although completion total mesorectal excision is considered standard of care in T2 or more invasive carcinomas, this completion surgery is not always performed. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the outcome of patients after TEM-only, when completion surgery would be indicated. METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter, observational cohort study, outcome after TEM-only (n = 41) and completion surgery (n = 40) following TEM for a pT2-3 rectal adenocarcinoma was compared. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 29 months for the TEM-only group and 31 months for the completion surgery group. Local recurrence rate was 35 and 11% for the TEM-only and completion surgery groups respectively. Distant metastasis occurred in 16% of the patients in both groups. The 3-year overall survival was 63% in the TEM-only group and 91% in the completion surgery group respectively. Three-year disease-specific survival was 91 versus 93% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although local recurrence after TEM-only for pT2-3 rectal cancer is worse compared to the recurrence that occurs after completion surgery, disease-specific survival is comparable between both groups. The lower unadjusted overall survival in the TEM-only group indicates that TEM-only may be a valid alternative in older and frail patients, especially when high morbidity of completion surgery is taken into consideration. Nevertheless, completion surgery should always be advised when curation is intended.

The Value of Ambulatory Urodynamics in the Evaluation of Treatment Effect of Sacral Neuromodulation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the improvement of symptoms by sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in an objective way by carrying out an ambulatory urodynamic study (ambulatory-UDS). Until now, successful treatment has been defined as a ≥50% improvement recorded on voiding diaries. Voiding diaries are a patient reported outcome tool. A tool with less bias is desired to evaluate the treatment results before an expensive permanent system is implanted. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2015, a total of 334 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were included consecutively in an ambulatory-UDS database. From this database, a subgroup of patients was selected which underwent SNM. RESULTS: In 51 patients, an ambulatory-UDS was performed both at baseline and during the SNM test period. A positive treatment outcome after test stimulation based on the patients' voiding diary, correlated (p < 0.0001) with an improvement on ambulatory-UDS. Twenty-six of the 30 patients, who have showed improvement of more than 50% on voiding diary parameters and who had subjective improvement of their symptoms, showed an early improvement on ambulatory-UDS. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory-UDS can be used in clinical decision making, as it is associated with voiding diary improvement during the SNM test period. Using ambulatory-UDS to confirm success could in the future justify the shortening of the test period.

Which molecular targets do we need to focus on to improve lower urinary tract dysfunction? ICI-RS 2017.

AIMS: Update on some molecular targets for new drugs to improve lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction. METHODS: Using PubMed, a search for literature on molecular targets in the LUT was performed to identify relevant clinical and animal studies. Keywords were entered as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) or as text words. The Mesh terms were used in various combinations and usually included the terms lower urinary AND pharmacology. Other Mesh term included: bladder, urethra, CNS, physiology, afferent activity, ATP, prostanoids, cannabinoids, fibrosis. Search results were assessed for their overall relevance to this review. RESULTS: In a normal bladder, ATP contributes little to detrusor contraction, but in a diseased bladder ATP may contribute to OAB. Selective decrease of ATP release via adenosine A1 receptor stimulation offers a potential treatment possibility. Candidates for relaxation of the smooth muscle of the urethra can be found among, for example, the receptor subtypes of PGE2 , and PGD2 . Drugs for relaxation of the striated sphincter can target the muscle directly or the spinal sphincter control. Fibrosis is a major problem in LUT dysfunction and agents with an inhibitory effect on the TGFß pathway, for example relaxin and BMP7, may be promising avenues. Available drugs with a CNS site of action are often limited by low efficacy or adverse effects. Inhibitors of the glycine receptor Gly-T2 or antagonists of the adenosine A2 receptor may be new alternatives. CONCLUSION: New molecular targets for drugs aiming at improvement of voiding function can be identified, but their translational impact remains to be established.

Do the definitions of the underactive bladder and detrusor underactivity help in managing patients: International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) Think Tank 2017?

AIMS: The Think Tank aimed to discuss the pitfalls and advantages of current definitions in terms of research and management of underactive bladder (UAB). UAB broadly defines a symptom complex of bladder emptying problems and does not indicate a specific pathology. Detrusor underactivity (DU) is a urodynamic diagnosis from pressure-flow studies. The correlation of UAB with DU remains to be precisely determined. METHODS: The presentations and subsequent discussion, leading to research recommendations during the Think Tank of the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society in Bristol, 2017, are summarized. RESULTS: To develop more specific individualized management strategies, the Think Tank panel proposed (i) that, since defining a single type of index patient to represent all UAB will not fulfill all clinical research needs, several index patients should be defined by phenotyping of patients with UAB, including, children, young men and women, elderly male and female patients with co-existing DU and detrusor overactivity, and neurological patients with UAB; (ii) prospective longitudinal studies to assess the natural history of UAB, in the different target populations, based on different UAB phenotypes, should be initiated; (iii) DU should be precisely defined by urodynamic parameters; and (iv) work to develop validated specific questionnaires combined with non-invasive tests for screening, diagnosis and follow up, needs to be continued. CONCLUSIONS: The precise relationship of UAB to DU remains to be defined. Phenotyping patients with UAB/DU, performing prospective trials of natural history, and developing symptom questionnaires and diagnostic investigations will improve our ability to identify and treat UAB/DU.

What is the utility of urodynamics, including ambulatory, and 24 h monitoring, in predicting upper urinary tract damage in neuro-urological patients and other lower urinary tract dysfunction? ICI-RS 2017.

AIMS: This article focuses on how, and if, urodynamics can help to identify which kidneys are in danger of deteriorating in function and also gives recommendations for future research. METHODS: At the International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS) in 2017, a multi-disciplinary group presented a literature search of what is known about the utility of Urodynamics, including ambulatory, and 24 h monitoring, in predicting upper urinary tract damage in neuro-urological patients and other lower urinary tract dysfunctions. Wider discussions regarding knowledge gaps, and ideas for future research ensued and are presented in this paper along with a review of the evidence. RESULTS: The current treatment strategy both in congenital and acquired neurogenic bladder is rather aggressive and successful when addressing hazards to kidney function. This article has highlighted uncertainties concerning the use of 40 cmH2O DLPP and even the lower value of 20. The current literature suggests that patients with spina bifida and those with spinal cord injury have a higher risk of developing upper urinary tract damage and kidney function impairment than those with multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should focus on less invasive methods to assess the risk to the upper and lower urinary tract such as urine and serum measurements of cytokines that are involved in the pathophysiology of urinary tract impairment.

Do we understand voiding dysfunction in women? Current understanding and future perspectives: ICI-RS 2017.

AIMS: Urinary retention in women is poorly understood, compared to the equivalent condition in men, and was the subject of a dedicated session organized at the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) in Bristol, United Kingdom, 2017. METHODS: The current understanding of the pathophysiological correlates of idiopathic voiding dysfunction in women, the role of urodynamics, neurophysiology, and non-invasive tests in characterizing functional bladder outlet obstruction due to a non-relaxing urethral sphincter, and poorly defined diagnosis of detrusor underactivity were reviewed. RESULTS: Putative factors underlying the pathogenesis of urinary retention following urinary tract infections were discussed. Further research is required to explore the association between bladder wall inflammation and alterations in detrusor contractile functions. The complex interrelationship between urinary retention and psychological co-morbidities and sexual trauma were explored, and the overlap between these and psychological co-morbidities and functional neurological problems with functional urological problems were recognized. Understanding the mechanism of action of sacral neuromodulation, often a successful treatment for urinary retention, would provide insight into the underlying factors that may be responsible for urinary retention. Specifically, there is a need to understand the role of the endogenous enkephalinergic system in the pathogenesis of urinary retention and to identify predictors of successful treatment with sacral neuromodulation. Based on current understanding and potential directions of research in the future, an algorithm for the evaluation of women with voiding dysfunction was proposed. CONCLUSIONS: In the future, recommendations for research should lead to a better understanding of urinary retention in women and its treatment.

Ultrasound detrusor wall thickness measurement in combination with bladder capacity can safely detect detrusor underactivity in adult men.

PURPOSE: Detrusor underactivity (DU) has lately gained increasing interest because this bladder condition is an important cause of post-void residual urine and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in adult men. Until now, DU can only be diagnosed by pressure-flow measurement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to search for noninvasive tests which can safely predict DU in adult men. METHODS: Unselected, treatment-naïve male patients aged ≥40 years with uncomplicated, non-neurogenic LUTS were prospectively evaluated. All men received-after standard assessment of male LUTS-ultrasound detrusor wall thickness (DWT) measurements at a bladder filling ≥250 ml and computer urodynamic investigation. DU was defined as incomplete bladder emptying (>30 ml) in the absence of bladder outlet obstruction or dysfunctional voiding. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to determine parameters and threshold values for DU. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 143 consecutive men with medians of 62 years, IPSS 16, and prostate volume 35 ml. In total, 33 patients (23.1 %) had DU. CART analysis showed that all men with DWT ≤ 1.23 mm plus bladder capacity >445 ml had DU. This multivariate model has a sensitivity of 42 %, specificity of 100 %, positive predictive value of 100 %, and negative predictive value of 85 %. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that all men with ultrasound DWT ≤ 1.23 mm + bladder capacity >445 ml have DU. Combination of these two tests could help physicians to diagnose DU noninvasively in clinical practice. A prospective independent study should confirm these results.

Male bladder outlet obstruction: Time to re-evaluate the definition and reconsider our diagnostic pathway? ICI-RS 2015.

The diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in the male is dependent on measurements of pressure and flow made during urodynamic studies. The procedure of urodynamics and the indices used to delineate BOO are well standardized largely as a result of the work of the International Continence Society. The clinical utility of the diagnosis of BOO is however, less well defined and there are several shortcomings and gaps in the currently available medical literature. Consequently the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) held a think tank session in 2015 entitled "Male bladder outlet obstruction: Time to re-evaluate the definition and reconsider our diagnostic pathway?" This manuscript details the discussions that took place within that think tank setting out the pros and cons of the current definition of BOO and exploring alternative clinical tests (alone or in combination) which may be useful in the future investigation of male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. The think tank panel concluded that pressure-flow studies remain the diagnostic gold-standard for BOO although there is still a lack of high quality evidence. Newer, less invasive, investigations have shown promise in terms of diagnostic accuracy for BOO but similar criticisms can be levelled against these tests. Therefore, the think tank suggests further research with regard to these alternative indicators to determine their clinical utility.

Prediction of sacral neuromodulation treatment success in men with impaired bladder emptying-time for a new diagnostic approach.

INTRODUCTION: Detrusor underactivity (DU) is currently a topic that receives major attention within functional urology. Urologists are often confronted with men who present with voiding dysfunction without bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) or after desobstructive or neuromodulation treatment. Their impaired bladder emptying is suspected to be related to failure of detrusor contractile function. Earlier research indicated that patients with non-obstructive urinary retention (NOR), for example, detrusor underactivity (DU), have a lower success rate after sacral neuromodulation (SNM) compared to patients treated with SNM for storage dysfunction. However, predicting factors for treatment success in the NOR group have not yet been defined. METHODS AND EVIDENCE: The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of the new BOO-contractility (Maastricht-Hannover) nomogram can identify and predict SNM non-responders. Our results in 18 men showed that only 20% of patients below the 10th percentile, but 86% of men between the 10 and 25th percentiles of the nomogram can be treated successfully with SNM. All successfully treated patients voided without needing self- catheterisation. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study showed for the first time that SNM treatment response in male patients with impaired bladder emptying can be predicted with the BOO-contractility (Maastricht-Hannover) nomogram. Men below the 10th percentile are likely to be treatment non-responders, whereas the majority of men above the 10th percentile are responders. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:808-810, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Can we define and characterize the aging lower urinary tract?-ICI-RS 2015.

The prevalence of lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms increases with age but the etiology is unknown. This article aims to identify research directions that clarify the basis of this association. The initial question is whether biological age is the variable of interest or a time-dependent accumulation of factors that impact on LUT function at rates that differ between individuals. In particular, the accumulation of conditions or agents due to inflammatory states or tissue ischemia is important. Much of the above has been concerned with changes to bladder function and morphology. However, the outflow tract function is also affected, in particular changes to the function of external sphincter skeletal muscle and associated sacral motor nerve control. Nocturia is a cardinal symptom of LUT dysfunction and is more prevalent with aging. Urine production is determined by diurnal changes to the production of certain hormones as well as arterial blood pressure and such diurnal rhythms are blunted in subjects with nocturia, but the causal links remain to be elucidated. Changes to the central nervous control of LUT function with age are also increasingly recognized, whether in mid-brain/brainstem regions that directly affect LUT function or in higher centers that determine psycho-social and emotional factors impinging on the LUT. In particular, the linkage between increasing white matter hyperintensities and LUT dysfunction during aging is recognized but not understood. Overall, a more rational approach is being developed to link LUT dysfunction with factors that accumulate with age, however, the precise causal pathways remain to be characterized. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:854-858, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Detrusor underactivity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic obstruction: characterization and potential impact on indications for surgical treatment of the prostate.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Detrusor underactivity is a highly prevalent type of voiding dysfunction in men and responsible for residual urine and decreased voiding efficiency. Patients with detrusor underactivity have an unfavorable outcome after prostatic surgery and do not have better long-term results than untreated detrusor underactivity patients. Therefore, differentiation between detrusor underactivity and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is crucial for the prediction of the outcome of prostatic surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with detrusor underactivity report more frequently about decreased/interrupted urinary flow, hesitancy, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying and/or decreased bladder sensation compared with men with normal pressure-flow studies. Determination of and differentiation between detrusor underactivity and BOO is only possible by pressure-flow studies. Threshold values for the diagnosis of detrusor underactivity have to be adjusted to the BOO-grade. A nomogram using BOO-index and maximum Watts factor is currently the most advanced tool to diagnose detrusor underactivity and/or BOO; values below the 25th percentile line indicate detrusor underactivity. It is desirable to establish tests to noninvasively diagnose detrusor underactivity. The combination of ultrasound detrusor wall thickness and bladder capacity can safely detect detrusor underactivity. SUMMARY: Careful assessment of voiding dysfunction to discriminate between detrusor underactivity and BOO should be done with pressure-flow studies, can avoid unsuccessful prostate surgery and helps in counselling patients.

Unravelling detrusor underactivity: Development of a bladder outlet resistance-Bladder contractility nomogram for adult male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

AIMS: Voiding dysfunction in adult men may be caused by bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and/or detrusor underactivity (DU). Until now, it is only possible to classify BOO and DU by pressure-flow analysis. Low values of the maximum Watts factor (Wmax ) indicate DU but thresholds for the diagnosis have not been established. Purpose of this study was to construct a nomogram using bladder outlet resistance and detrusor contractility in order to classify BOO and DU simultaneously. METHODS: Treatment naïve men aged ≥40 years with uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were prospectively evaluated. Patients were assessed with IPSS, prostate volume, uroflowmetry, post-void residual, and pressure-flow measurement. The bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) was used to determine BOO-grade and Wmax to calculate detrusor contractility. Individual BOOI-Wmax values were plotted in a graph. Linear interpolation was applied to determine the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 822 male patients with means of 64 years, IPSS 16, and prostate volume of 40 cc. Patient and clinical parameters of the <25th percentile groups were significantly different compared to the 25th-50th percentiles: age (66 vs. 63 years, P = 0.006), bladder capacity (503 vs. 442 ml, P = 0.009), post-void residual urine (167 vs. 116 ml, P = 0.001), and voiding efficiency (67% vs. 73%, P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram quantifies the relationship between detrusor contractility and BOO in men with LUTS. A measurement value <25th percentile correlates with clinical indicators of DU and is proposed as a cut-off value for DU-diagnosis. Higher age, bladder capacity, and PVR as well as lower voiding efficiency indicate DU. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:980-986, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Recommendations for future development of contractility and obstruction nomograms for women. ICI-RS 2014.

AIMS: At present, existing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) nomograms for women are still not universally accepted. Moreover, only limited information is available regarding bladder contractility in women. The aim is to present the discussions and recommendations from the think tank session "Can we construct and validate contractility and obstruction nomograms for women?" held at the 2014 International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS) meeting in Bristol, UK. METHODS: An overview of clinical significance, bladder mechanics and modelling, lack of existing nomograms for women, and development of new nomograms were presented and discussed in a multidisciplinary think tank session. This think tank session was based on a collaboration between physicians, engineers, and researchers and consensus was achieved on future research initiatives. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the think tank discussion, the ICI-RS panel put forward the following recommendations: the need to acquire normative age-matched data in women to define "normal" and "pathological" values of urodynamic parameters; the inclusion of additional clinical data in new nomograms and the use of this extra dimension to develop clinically applicable nomograms for female BOO and contractility; and finally, the need to take into account the variability of BOO in women when developing female bladder contractility nomograms.

The value of urodynamic tools to guide patient selection in sacral neuromodulation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to explore whether urodynamics, with the addition of ambulatory urodynamic study (ambulatory-UDS), will be able to better predict and assess sacral neuromodulation (SNM) treatment outcome. Selection of patients is a critical element in achieving optimal outcome in SNM. Quantitative and qualitative results of urodynamic tests are used to justify surgical therapy and to evaluate treatment for lower urinary tract dysfunction. Therefore, these tests should be representative and subsequently offer a correct prognosis. METHODS: Between December 2002 until May 2013 selected patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (storage and/or voiding dysfunction) were included in an ambulatory urodynamic measurement database. From this database, the total subgroup of patients that underwent a sacral neuromodulation test evaluation was selected. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients were included. Success rate of SNM in patients with storage dysfunction was around 70 %, according to either conventional-UDS or ambulatory-UDS diagnosis. Based on conventional-UDS, success rate of SNM in patients with hypocontractility was 67 % and in acontractile patients 35 %. According to ambulatory-UDS diagnosis, success rates were 32 and 17 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that conventional-UDS overestimates the amount of patients diagnosed with hypocontractile or acontractile bladder. Patients with reduced contractility on ambulatory-UDS have a lower chance of SNM success. Hence, ambulatory-UDS allows us to select patients with a real acontractile bladder and predict SNM failure. In patients with storage dysfunction, additional ambulatory-UDS does not seem to contribute in predicting SNM outcome.

Evaluation of obstructed voiding in the female: how close are we to a definition?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The difficulties of defining and evaluating bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in the female patient have been described for several years. This review aims to examine recent literature to summarize progress in the area. RECENT FINDINGS: Within the last 2 years, functional causes of female BOO have been summarized, new nomograms proposed, several case reports of different causes of BOO have been published and work on surgical outcomes and possible diagnostics reported. SUMMARY: Women complain of voiding dysfunction because of different reasons. For clinical decision-making, and to evaluate different surgical procedures, finding a way of detecting and quantifying infravesical obstruction is immensely helpful. This review aims to clarify questions concerning definitions of BOO in women and provide an update on recent advances.

Differentiation of lower urinary tract dysfunctions: The role of ambulatory urodynamic monitoring.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the value of ambulatory urodynamic monitoring in the assessment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including patients who underwent both conventional urodynamic and ambulatory urodynamic assessment at our Center between December 2002 and February 2013. The ambulatory urodynamic studies were interpreted in a standardized way by a resident experienced with urodynamic measurements, and one staff member who specialized in incontinence and urodynamics. RESULTS: A total of 239 patients (71 male and 168 female) were included in the present study. The largest subgroup of patients, 79 (33%), underwent ambulatory urodynamic monitoring based on suspicion of an acontractile bladder. However, 66 of these patients (83.5%) still showed contractions on ambulatory urodynamics. Other groups that were analyzed were patients with suspected storage dysfunction (47 patients), inconclusive conventional urodynamic studies (68 patients) and incontinence of unclear origin (45 patients). Particularly in this last group, ambulatory urodynamics appeared to be useful for discrimination between different causes of incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory urodynamic monitoring is a valuable discriminating diagnostic tool in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms who have already undergone conventional urodynamics, particularly in the case of patients with suspected bladder acontractility and incontinence of unclear origin during ambulatory urodynamics. Further study is required to determine the clinical implications of the findings and their relationship with treatment outcome.