Reliability assessment of the upper urinary tract dilation grading system based on magnetic resonance urography in patients with neurogenic bladder.

BACKGROUND: To assess the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of the magnetic resonance urography (MRU)-upper urinary tract dilation (UUTD) grading system. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with a diagnosis of NB were enrolled in this study. The images were assembled in an electronic presentation randomly. The presentations were reviewed and graded by 4 junior and 4 senior urologists. One week later, the images were randomized again and reassessed. The inter-observer reliability was estimated by Kendall's coefficient of concordance and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and the intra-observer reliability was estimated by weighted Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: The inter-observer reliability strength was excellent for all urologists, with the ICC value of 0.939 (0.908-0.963) and Kendall's W value of 0.967. The highest agreement was shown in Grade 4 at 92.50%, and the lowest in Grade 2 at 82.14%. All disagreements were within one grade of difference. Moreover, the Intra-observer reliability was excellent, with the weighted kappa value ranging from 0.904 to 0.954. CONCLUSIONS: The inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of this novel MRU-UUTD grading system is confirmed, providing adequate evidence for broader clinical application.

Bladder Volume Assessment in Pediatric Patients With Neurogenic Bladder: Is Ultrasound an Accurate Method?

OBJECTIVE: To define the accuracy of ultrasound to determine bladder volume in pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder (NB). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of children with NB in treatment with urethral clean intermittent catheterization. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: bladder surgeries, and catheterization through a channel different than urethra. Bladder volume was measured with ultrasound using the formula: anteroposterior bladder diameter by side to side diameter by distance from dome to outlet tract by 0.523 (cm3). In the same act, the patient was performed urethral catheterization and the drained volume was measured in millimeters. Finally, postvoid residual volume (PVR) was assessed with ultrasound. RESULTS: We performed 318 measurements in 299 patients, mean age was 9.95 years (standard deviation: 4.6), 59% were female. Most frequent etiologies of NB were myelomeningocele and lipomyelomeningocele. Mean ultrasound-determined bladder volume was 213.9cm3 (range: 20-899 cm3) and mean bladder volume drain through catheterization was 336.4 mL (range: 30-1480 mL; P : .0001). In 67.3% of the patients (n: 214) PVR was not significant, and their mean ultrasound volume was 212.7 mL and the volume evacuated by catheterization was 339.9 mL (P : .0001). In all age groups ultrasound-determined bladder volume was statistically lower than catheterized bladder volume (P : .0001). The mean percentage error of the ultrasound-determined bladder volume was 15.58% ± 44.09. Linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot showed low agreement between both measurement techniques. CONCLUSION: In children with NB, ultrasound-determined bladder volume was statistically lower than catheterized bladder volume measured at the same moment, and this relation persisted regardless of sex, age, and the presence of PVR.

Correlation of ultrasound bladder vibrometry assessment of bladder compliance with urodynamic study results.

PURPOSE OR OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess correlation between bladder wall mechanical properties obtained by ultrasound bladder vibrometry (UBV) and urodynamic study (UDS) measurements in a group of patients undergoing clinical UDS procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Concurrent UBV and UDS were performed on 70 patients with neurogenic bladders (56 male and 14 female). Bladder wall mechanical properties measured by UBV at different filling volumes were correlated with recorded detrusor pressure (Pdet) values. Mean, median and standard deviation of correlation values were calculated and the significance of these observations was tested. RESULTS: Bladder wall mechanical properties obtained by UBV as group velocity squared and elasticity showed high correlations with Pdet measured at different volumes (median correlation 0.73, CI: 0.64-0.80 and 0.72, CI: 0.56-0.82 respectively). The correlation of group velocity squared and elasticity with Pdet were both significantly higher than 0.5. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that UBV can closely monitor changes in bladder wall mechanical properties at different volumes in a group of patients undergoing UDS. The high correlation between UBV parameters and detrusor pressure measurements suggests that UBV can be utilized as a reliable and cost-effective tool for assessment of the bladder wall mechanical changes in a noninvasive fashion.

Clinical usefulness of ultrasound assessment of detrusor wall thickness in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction due to spinal cord injury: urodynamics made easy?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of sonographic measurement of detrusor wall thickness (DWT) for the prediction of risk factors in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) due to spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: In a prospective study, 60 consecutive patients with NLUTD due to SCI presenting for routine urodynamic assessment at a specialized SCI center underwent additional measurement of DWT at varying bladder volumes. Results of urodynamic testing were classified into favorable and unfavorable. DWT at maximum capacity was used to calculate a possible cutoff value for favorable urodynamic results. RESULTS: Urodynamic results were favorable in 48 patients and unfavorable in 12 patients. A DWT of 0.97 mm or less can safely (sensitivity 91.7 %, specificity 63.0 %) be used as a cutoff point for the absence of risk factors for renal damage. CONCLUSION: According to our results, DWT may be useful as an additional risk assessment for renal damage in patients with NLUTD due to SCI. However, as other parameters required for bladder management, especially detrusor overactivity, cannot be evaluated by this technique, it cannot replace urodynamic testing.

Ultrasound assessment of detrusor muscle thickness in children with non-neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To measure detrusor muscle thickness in children with non-neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction (NNBSD), and to evaluate the difference between children with various bladder dysfunctions and those with normal urodynamics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 139 children the urodynamic study was performed, and the detrusor of the anterior bladder wall was measured using high-frequency ultrasonography (US). Children were categorized into five groups, according to urodynamic findings. Differences in detrusor thickness between groups were tested by one-way ANOVA with post hoc Scheffé test. RESULTS: Forty-six children (33.1%) had normal urodynamics, and mean (+/-S.D.) detrusor thickness 1.3 +/- 0.5 mm (range 0.5-3.0). Fifty-two (37.4%) had urge syndrome, with detrusor thickness of 2 +/- 0.7 mm (1.0-3.6). Thirty-three (23.7%) had dysfunctional voiding, with detrusor thickness of 2.6 +/- 0.5 mm (1.5-3.6). Four (2.9%) had lazy bladder, with detrusor thickness of 0.9 +/- 0.1 mm (0.8-1.0), and four had anatomical infravesical obstruction, with detrusor thickness of 4.4 +/- 0.3 mm (4-4.6). The mean detrusor thickness in all children with NNBSD was 2.2 +/- 0.7 mm (range 0.8-3.6). Multiple comparisons showed significant difference between all groups, except between children with normal urodynamics and children with lazy bladder. CONCLUSION: There is statistically significant difference in mean detrusor thickness between children with normal urodynamics and children with NNBSD. However, due to the overlap of measured values, it is not possible to determine the cut-off value that could be used to distinguish children with and without NNBSD.

Color Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of vesicoureteric reflux in children with bladder dysfunction.

To determine whether color Doppler ultrasound (DUS) evaluation of ureteric jets could predict vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children with non-neuropathic and neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction, 129 children were evaluated to identify the vesicoureteric orifice and measure the distance from the orifice to the midline of the dorsal bladder wall (MVU distance). The type of bladder dysfunction was determined by urodynamic studies. Forty-two children with no history of kidney or bladder disease were examined by DUS as a control group. MVU distances were compared between several groups of children with different urodynamic findings, and the significance was tested. Jets were visualized in 81% of children. MVU distances were significantly lower in children without VUR compared to those with VUR. No statistically significant differences were observed between children without VUR and those with VUR and more severe urodynamic disturbances like dysfunctional voiding. In children with neuropathic bladders, jets were visible in only 57% of refluxive units and the range of MVU distances was very wide (5-22 mm). If a cut-off point of 10 mm is used, in children without bladder dysfunction the sensitivity of MVU measurement in the diagnosis of VUR was 87.5% and the specificity 97%. However, in children with non-neuropathic and neuropathic bladder dysfunction, the sensitivity was only 55% and the specificity 79%. Color Doppler (DUS) and measurement of the MVU distance proved useful in predicting VUR only in children with normal bladder function. In children with neuropathic and non-neuropathic bladder dysfunction it can be used to visualize ureteric jets, but cannot replace radiographic or radionuclide voiding cystourethrography.

Prospective comparison of external sphincter balloon dilatation and prosthesis placement with external sphincterotomy in spinal cord injured men.

The purpose of our investigation was to compare external sphincterotomy, the traditional method of treatment of detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD), with two newer methods, balloon dilatation or internal stenting of the external sphincter. Sixty-one spinal cord injured (SCI) men were prospectively evaluated. The indications for treatment were DESD and voiding pressure greater than 60 cmH2O demonstrated during video-urodynamic study. Twenty patients were treated with balloon dilatation of the external sphincter, 26 with an internal stent prosthesis, and 15 with traditional external sphincterotomy. Age and duration of SCI were similar among the three treatment groups. A significant decrease in both voiding pressure and residual urine from presurgery levels persisted during the follow-up period of 3 to 26 months (mean, 15 months) in all three groups. Bladder capacity remained constant, renal function improved or stabilized, and autonomic dysreflexia (AD) improved in all three groups. Balloon dilatation and prosthesis placement are associated with a significantly shorter length of surgery (p = 0.045), length of hospitalization (p = 0.005), decrease in hospitalization cost (p = 0.01), and decrease in hemoglobin postoperatively (p = 0.046) when compared to external sphincterotomy. Complications of stent insertion included device migration (three patients) and secondary bladder neck obstruction (two patients). In the balloon dilatation group, three recurrent sphincter obstructions, one case of bleeding requiring transfusion, and one case of bulbous urethral stricture occurred. After external sphincterotomy, two patients developed recurrent obstruction, two required blood transfusion, and 1 patient noted erectile dysfunction. Balloon dilatation and prosthesis placement both proved to be as effective as external sphincterotomy in the treatment of DESD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)