Diagnoses and Treatment Recommendations-Interrater Reliability of Uroflowmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Uroflowmetry (UF) is an established procedure in urology and is recommended before further investigations of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). Some authors even consider using UF instead of urodynamics (UD). Studies on the interrater reliability of UF regarding treatment recommendations are rare, and there are no relevant data on people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The aim of this study was to investigate the interrater reliability (IRR) of UF concerning diagnosis and therapy in PwMS prospectively. METHODS: UF of 92 PwMS were assessed by 4 raters. The diagnostic criteria were normal findings (NFs), detrusor overactivity (DO), detrusor underactivity (DU), detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). The possible treatment criteria were as follows: no treatment (NO), catheter placement (CAT), alpha-blockers, detrusor-attenuating medication, botulinum toxin (BTX), neuromodulation (NM), and physiotherapy/biofeedback (P/BF). IRR was assessed by kappa (κ). RESULTS: κ of diagnoses were NFs = 0.22; DO = 0.17; DU = 0.07; DSD = 0.14; and BOO = 0.18. For therapies, the highest κ was BTX = 0.71, NO = 0.38 and CAT = 0.44. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high influence of the individual rater. UD should be subject to the same analysis and a comparison should be made between UD and UF. This may have implications for the value of UF in the neuro-urological management of PwMS, although at present UD remains the gold standard for the diagnostics of NLUTD in PwMS.

[A review of intravesical treatment options in neuro-urology]. / Intravesikale Behandlungsoptionen in der Neuro-Urologie ­ eine Übersicht.

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction is caused by various disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. This can result in several malfunctions of the storage and voiding phase, which are reflected in symptoms such as urgency, urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections and post-void residual urine. Reduced quality of life, impairment of the upper urinary tract, reduced employment opportunities and worsening of the symptoms of the underlying condition can be the consequences. Therefore, the primary goals of neuro-urology are to protect the upper urinary tract, maintain continence and improve the quality of life of those affected. To achieve these goals, different intravesical drug and electrophysical therapy options are available. These article addresses these intravesical therapy options as well as their indication and relevance in neuro-urology.

[Imaging of the pelvic floor : The urological perspective]. / Bildgebung des Beckenbodens : Die Sicht der Urologie.

BACKGROUND: Physiological pelvic floor function is essential for maintaining the appropriate storage and voiding function of the lower urinary tract. Disorders of pelvic floor function can consist of both hypofunction and hyperfunction and can result in urge symptoms, urinary incontinence, disorders of the micturition process, urinary retention, and chronic pelvic floor pain, as well as endangering the upper urinary tract. Thus, these disorders can be complex in their cause and effect. An exact diagnosis and initiation of a target-specific therapy of the respective functional disorder can only be achieved by the interaction of functional and imaging diagnostics. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is therefore to present these special imaging techniques from the perspective of functional urology and neuro-urology. METHODS: This paper presents the available imaging techniques in the diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction and places them in the diagnostic context of lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Fatigue, and Depression-Are There Correlations in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis?

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently include fatigue, depression, and neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), causing severe burdens on affected individuals. The relationships between these symptoms have not been intensively researched and there are no studies on the detailed influence of the different neurogenic LUTS. We aimed to investigate the relationships between fatigue, depression, and neurogenic LUTS as recorded in bladder diaries by persons with MS. We analyzed the bladder diaries of 274 people and their scores on the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (German version). The neurogenic LUTS were defined as urgency, reduced voided volume, increased standardized voiding frequency, nocturia, and urinary incontinence. Those suffering from incontinence, nocturia, reduced voided volume, or urgency had higher fatigue scores compared to those without these symptoms. Those with nocturia showed significantly higher scores for depression. The severity of urgency and voided volume had the greatest effect on the severity of individuals' fatigue and depression levels. With increasing urgency, the risk of clinically significant fatigue and depression was expected to increase. Urgency and voided volume correlated most with fatigue and depression. A prospective longitudinal study investigating fatigue/depression after the successful treatment of neurogenic LUTS is needed to clarify causality and offer possible treatment options for fatigue and depression.

Is the Standard Artificial Urinary Sphincter AMS 800 Still a Treatment Option for the Irradiated Male Patient Presenting with a Devastated Bladder Outlet?

BACKGROUND: Circular urethral compression with an artificial sphincter allows control of voiding, even in patients with severe stress urinary incontinence, but it heightens the risk of urethral atrophy and erosion. This study of one of the largest populations of patients treated with radiotherapy investigates the additive effect of the post-radiogenic stricture of the membranous urethra/bladder neck on AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter outcomes. METHODS: In a retrospective multicenter cohort study, we analyzed patients fitted with an AMS 800, comparing those who had received radiotherapy with patients presenting a devastated bladder outlet (stricture of the membranous urethra/bladder neck). We determined the correlation between these groups of patients using both univariate and stepwise adjusted multivariate regression. The revision-free interval was estimated by a Kaplan-Meier plot and compared by applying the log-rank test. A p value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 123 irradiated patients we identified, 62 (50.4%) had undergone at least one prior desobstruction for bladder-neck/urethra stenosis. After a mean follow-up of 21 months, the latter tended to achieve social continence less frequently (25.7% vs. 35%; p = 0.08). Revision was required significantly more often for this group (43.1% vs. 26.3%; p = 0.05) due to urethral erosion in 18 of 25 cases. A stenosis recurred in five cases; desobstruction was performed in two cases, leading to erosion in both. Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of revision when recurrent stenosis necessitated at least two prior desobstructions (HR 2.8; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A devastated bladder outlet is associated with a lower proportion of men with social continence and a significantly higher need for revision compared with irradiated patients without a history of urethral stenosis. Alternative surgical procedures should be discussed beforehand, especially in cases of recurrent urethral stenosis.

Urinary and Double Incontinence in Cognitively Impaired Patients: Impacts on Those Affected and Their Professional Caregivers.

Urinary or double incontinence in frail elderly people is common and leads to a reduction in quality of life and an increased burden on the patients' caregivers. Up to now, no special instrument has been available to assess the impact of incontinence on cognitively impaired patients and their professional caregivers. Thus, the outcomes of incontinence-specific medical and nursing interventions for cognitively impaired individuals are not measurable. Our aim was to investigate the impacts of urinary and double incontinence on both the affected patients and their caregivers using the newly developed "International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Cognitively Impaired Elderly" (ICIQ-Cog) tool. The severity of incontinence was measured by incontinence episodes per night/per 24 h, the type of incontinence, the type of incontinence devices used, and the proportion of incontinence care out of total care; all these measures were correlated to the ICIQ-Cog. Incontinence episodes per night and the proportion of incontinence care out of total care showed significant correlations with the patient- and caregiver-related ICIQ-Cog scores. Both items have negative effects on patient quality of life and caregiver burden. Improving nocturnal incontinence and reducing the need for incontinence care overall can decrease the incontinence-specific bother of affected patients and their professional caregivers. The ICIQ-Cog can be used to verify the impacts of medical and nursing interventions.

Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Asymptomatic Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in asymptomatic patients with MS has been described in preliminary studies, but specific investigations of this topic are rare. Many authors advise early diagnosis and treatment of NLUTD in patients with MS. In contrast, clinical practice and different guidelines recommend neuro-urological diagnostics only in the presence of symptoms. Our aim was to investigate the characteristics of NLUTD and the correlations of clinical parameters with NLUTD in asymptomatic patients with MS. We evaluated bladder diaries, urodynamic findings, and therapy proposals. Correlations of the voided volume, voiding frequency, urinary tract infections, and uroflowmetry including post-void residual with the urodynamic findings were determined. In our study, 26% of the patients were asymptomatic. Of these, 73.7% had urodynamic findings indicative of NLUTD, 21.1% had detrusor overactivity, 13.2% had detrusor underactivity, 13.2% detrusor overactivity and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, and 57.9% had radiologically abnormal findings of the bladder. No patients presented low bladder compliance or renal reflux. Clinical parameters from the bladder diary and urinary tract infections were found to be correlated with NLUTD, and the absence of symptoms did not exclude NLUTD in patients with MS. We observed that urinary tract damage is already present in a relevant proportion. Based on our results, we recommend that patients with MS be screened for NLUTD regardless of the subjective presence of urinary symptoms or the disease stage.

Randomised Controlled Trials Assessing the Clinical Value of Urodynamic Studies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: The role of urodynamic studies (UDSs) in the diagnosis of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is crucial. Although expert statements and guidelines underline their value for clinical decision-making in various clinical settings, the academic debate as to their impact on patient outcomes continues. Objective: To summarise the evidence from all randomised controlled trials assessing the clinical usefulness of UDS in the management of LUTS. Evidence acquisition: For this systematic review, searches were performed without language restrictions in three electronic databases until November 18, 2020. The inclusion criteria were randomised controlled study design and allocation to receive UDS or not prior to any clinical management. Quality assessment was performed by two reviewers independently, using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed on the uniformly reported outcome parameters. Evidence synthesis: Eight trials were included, and all but two focused on women with pure or predominant stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A meta-analysis of six studies including 942 female patients was possible for treatment success, as defined by the authors (relative risk 1.00, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.07), indicating no difference in efficacy when managing women with UDS. Conclusions: Although UDSs are not replaceable in diagnostics, since there is no other equivalent method to find out exactly what the lower urinary tract problem is, there are little data supporting its impact on outcomes. Randomised controlled trials have focussed on a small group of women with uncomplicated SUI and showed no added value, but these findings cannot be extrapolated to the overall patient population with LUTS, warranting further well-designed trials. Patient summary: Despite urodynamics being the gold standard to assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), as it is the only method that can specify lower urinary tract dysfunction, more studies assessing the clinical usefulness of urodynamic studies (UDSs) in the management of LUTS are needed. UDS investigation is not increasing the probability of success in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Clinical Predictors of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis patients often develop neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with a potential risk of upper urinary tract damage. Diagnostic tools are urodynamics, bladder diary, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual, but recommendations for their use are controversial. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify clinical parameters indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients. METHODS: 207 patients were prospectively assessed independent of the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. We analyzed Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, uroflowmetry, post-void residual, rate of urinary tract infections, standardized voiding frequency, and voided volume in correlation with urodynamic findings. RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between post-void residual (odds ratio (OR) 4.17, confidence interval (CI) 1.20-22.46), urinary tract infection rate (OR 3.91, CI 1.13-21.0), voided volume (OR 4.53, CI 1.85-11.99), increased standardized voiding frequency (OR 7.40, CI 2.15-39.66), and urodynamic findings indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Expanded Disability Status Scale shows no correlation. Those parameters (except post-void residual) are also associated with reduced bladder compliance, as potential risk for kidney damage. CONCLUSION: Therefore, bladder diary and urinary tract infection rate should be routinely assessed to identify patients who require urodynamics.

Incidence of urinary tract infection following initiation of intermittent catheterization among patients with recent spinal cord injury in Germany and the Netherlands.

Objective: To assess incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) among patients with recent spinal cord injury (SCI) who initiated intermittent catheterization (IC).Design: Retrospective chart review.Setting: Two European SCI rehabilitation centers.Participants: Seventy-three consecutive patients with recent SCI who initiated IC.Outcome measures: Incidence of UTI, using six different definitions, each based on microbiology ± symptomatology ± mention of UTI . Rates were expressed in terms of numbers of UTIs per 100 patient-months (PMs). Attention was focused on first-noted UTI during the three-month follow-up, as assessed with each of the six definitions.Results: Fifty-eight percent of patients (n = 33) met ≥1 definitions for UTI during follow-up (rate: 31.5 UTIs per 100 PMs), ranging from 14% (5.3 per 100 PMs; definition requiring bacteriuria, pyuria, and presence of symptoms) to 45% (22.7 per 100 PMs; definition requiring "mention of UTI"). Ten cases were identified using the definition that required bacteriuria, pyuria, and symptoms, whereas definitions that required bacteriuria and either pyuria or symptoms resulted in the identification of 20-25 cases. Median time to UTI ranged from 42 days ("mention of UTI") to 81 days (definition requiring bacteriuria and ≥100 leukocytes/mm3).Conclusion: Depending on definition, 14% to 45% of patients with recent SCI experience UTI within three months of initiating IC. Definitions requiring bacteriuria and either pyuria or symptoms consistently identified about twice as many cases as those that required all three conditions. Standardizing definitions may help improve detection, treatment, and prevention of UTI within this vulnerable population.

Electrochemically activated solution as bladder irrigation-An individual curative trial in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction and recurrent urinary infections.

AIMS: Driven by increasing awareness of antibiotic stewardship, especially in the vulnerable group of patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), whose frequent need for invasive interventions leads to a high incidence of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), the goal was to find an alternative to antibiotic treatment. Our intention was for the treatment to be locally administered and well-tolerated as well as to avoid the risk of antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12 catheterized NLUTD patients was performed within the setting of an individual curative trial. The decision to implement the investigational intervention was made on an individual basis with the aim of eliminating lower urinary tract bacteria before diagnostic procedures or to treat rUTI. Electrochemically activated solution (ECAS) was used as bladder irrigation (BI). The following assessments were undertaken: microbiological analysis of urine, analysis of leukocytes/erythrocytes (per µl urine); microbial resistance and sensitivity to antibiotics before and after therapy; clinical signs and patients' state of health. RESULTS: Eradication of bacteria or an increase in microbial sensitivity to antibiotics was observed in 50%-70% of patients. No adverse events were seen. Due to the restrictions of an individual curative trial, the results are limited by the small number of patients and the absence of a control group. CONCLUSION: In NLUTD patients with rUTIs, the use of ECAS BI to eliminate bacteriuria before invasive procedures (e.g., urodynamics, preoperative procedures) or to treat rUTI was shown to be a promising alternative to antibiotic treatment.

[Diagnostic testing of female urinary incontinence: dos and dont's]. / Diagnostik der weiblichen Harninkontinenz: Dos and Dontʼs.

Urinary incontinence causes significant limitations in quality of life and reduces mental and physical health. It is a widespread and chronic disease. About 200 million people are affected by urinary incontinence worldwide. Females are more often affected than males. For the therapy of female urinary incontinence various conservative and surgical treatment measures are available. A comprehensive diagnostic work-up is crucial for effective and successful use of those therapeutical measures. The current paper gives a review of diagnostic options for female urinary incontinence: from non-invasive up to invasive investigations. It presents potential pitfalls and possibilities for improving the diagnostic work-up.

[Current aspects of neurogenic dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract in multiple sclerosis]. / Aktuelles zu neurogenen Dysfunktionen des unteren Harntraktes bei Multipler Sklerose.

BACKGROUND: In the clinical management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the challenge is to make an early diagnosis and initiate adequate treatment of neurogenic disorders of the lower urinary tract (NLUTD). Various national guidelines provide practical recommendations which are sometimes discordant. OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple evidence-based algorithm for detecting NLUTD in patients with MS that could be taken as a principle for deriving therapeutic consequences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was initiated as a direct result of two multidisciplinary conferences. The aim was to identify statistically and clinically relevant parameters for the routine diagnosis of NLUTD in patients with MS. Urodynamic abnormalities served as the gold standard. At three subsequent consensus conferences, the results of the study were discussed, a diagnostic algorithm was developed and consensus was reached on a first-line treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The proposed algorithm enables the detection of NLUTD in patients with MS with the help of four statistically significant predictors: 1) the residual urine volume, 2) the number of urinary tract infections (UTI) within the last 6 months, 3) the standardized micturition frequency and 4) the presence/absence of urinary incontinence. The newly developed algorithm has proved to be efficient with the following results: approximately 75% of the patients do not need a urodynamic examination for a first-line treatment decision. In 25% of cases, urodynamic examinations are essential for an adequate treatment decision. Routine assessments include the patient medical history, residual urine volume measurement, a micturition diary and a uroflowmetry (optional).

Incontinence in frail elderly persons: Report of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based guidelines for the management of frail older persons with urinary incontinence are rare. Those produced by the International Consultation on Incontinence represent an authoritative set of recommendations spanning all aspects of management. AIMS: To summarize the available evidence relating to the management of urinary incontinence in frail older people published since the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of systematic reviews and evidence updates were performed by members of the working group to update the 2012 recommendations. RESULTS: Along with the revision of the treatment algorithm and accompanying text, there have been significant advances in several areas of the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in frail older people. DISCUSSION: The committee continues to note the relative paucity of data concerning frail older persons and draw attention to knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Clinicians treating older people with lower urinary tract symptoms should use the available evidence from studies of older people combined with careful extrapolation of those data from younger subjects. Due consideration to an individual's frailty and wishes is crucial.

Overactive bladder syndrome - focus onto detrusor overactivity.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To determine in patients with overactive bladder (OAB), urodynamic differences as well to compare the characteristics of patient's, with presence of detrusor overactivity on urodynamics with those with absence of detrusor overactivity. METHODS: Taking into account the urodynamic findings, the patients with OAB symptoms were categorized into one of two groups: group 1 (with detrusor overactivity) or group 2 (without detrusor overactivity), and comparative analyses for both groups were performed (epidemiological data, patient history, urodynamic criteria, bladder diaries, IC-OAB, IC-OABqol - questionnaires). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in age as well in the disease duration between group 1 and group 2. Although the mean number of micturitions and nocturia episodes was comparable, the numbers of urgency episodes differed significantly. The number of 'wet' patients was significantly higher in the group 1 with the significantly higher number of incontinence episodes. Group 1 demonstrated higher OAB symptom scores and higher impact on the patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the patients complaining of urgency-frequency do not have detrusor overactivity upon urodynamic testing, and only half have detrusor overactivity that correlates with urge perception. The patients with no detrusor overactivity appear to be significantly younger and have fewer symptoms, with a less pronounced impact on quality of life. They also have significantly higher maximal bladder capacity. This data supports the hypothesis that both conditions are different phases (early and late) of the same pathological state, or may be two different subtypes of OAB.

Should we routinely assess psychological morbidities in idiopathic lower urinary tract dysfunction: ICI-RS 2019?

AIMS: Psychological morbidities play a major role in idiopathic lower urinary tract dysfunction (iLUTD). The aim of the Think Tank (TT) was to discuss the relevance of psychological morbidities in idiopathic LUTD over the life span, including overactive bladder (OAB) or dysfunctional voiding (DV) and methods of assessment. METHODS: The paper is based on a selective review of the literature and in-depth discussions, leading to research recommendations regarding the assessment of psychological morbidities in iLUTD on children and adults held during the TT of the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society in 2019. RESULTS: Psychological comorbidities affect the health behaviors and treatment outcomes in patients with iLUTD. Both clinically relevant comorbid mental disorders, as well as subclinical psychological symptoms have a major impact and negatively influence incontinence treatment. Research is needed to elucidate mechanisms underlying iLUTD and psychological comorbidities. Clinical studies are needed to determine how perception generation and cognition impacts on the relationship of urinary perceptions, symptoms, and objective urodynamic function. Due to high psychological comorbidity rates, screening with validated, generic questionnaires for emotional and behavioral disorders in children with nocturnal enuresis, daytime urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence is recommended. Brief screening is recommended for all adults with iLUTD, especially with OAB and DV, who are refractory to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high rate and relevance in clinical practice, screening for psychological comorbidities is recommended for all age groups. The research recommendations of this TT may be followed to improve the assessment of psychological morbidities in iLUTD.