Investigator bias in urodynamic studies for functional urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: In the setting of the European Bladder Dysfunction Study, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of treatment options for functional incontinence in children, we assessed the concordance between reported and reviewed urodynamic scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 97 children with clinically diagnosed urge syndrome and 105 with clinically diagnosed dysfunctional voiding enrolled in the European Bladder Dysfunction Study and underwent full urodynamic studies before and immediately after treatment for urinary incontinence. Photocopies of 72% of the original urodynamic recordings were available for blinded review. RESULTS: The concordance for detrusor overactivity throughout the filling phase was 37% in urge syndrome cases and for increased pelvic floor activity during voiding it was 81% in dysfunctional voiding cases. Differences in original and reviewed scores were equally distributed among participating centers. CONCLUSIONS: Concordance between original and reviewed urodynamic scores was low for detrusor overactivity. Concordance was acceptable for increased pelvic floor activity during voiding but was not specific for dysfunctional voiding. Since interpreting urodynamic studies is based on pattern recognition, investigator bias can only be compensated for by blinded review of the actual recordings.

The relevance of urodynamic studies for Urge syndrome and dysfunctional voiding: a multicenter controlled trial in children.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare prospectively, in urge syndrome and dysfunctional voiding, clinical patterns with urodynamic patterns, to assess changes in urodynamic patterns after treatment, and to correlate urodynamic patterns and parameters with treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the European Bladder Dysfunction Study 97 children with clinically diagnosed urge syndrome received standard treatment, to which was randomly added placebo, oxybutynin or bladder training with online feedback. In a separate branch 105 children with clinically diagnosed dysfunctional voiding were randomly allocated to standard treatment or standard treatment plus pelvic floor training with online feedback. In all children urodynamic studies were performed before and immediately after treatment. RESULTS: In urge syndrome detrusor overactivity was present in 33% of cases before and 27% after treatment (of which 65% were de novo). Detrusor overactivity did not correlate with treatment outcome. In dysfunctional voiding increased pelvic floor activity during voiding, which was present in 67% of cases before and 56% after treatment (of which 45% were de novo), did not correlate with treatment outcome. In urge syndrome as well as in dysfunctional voiding neither maximum detrusor pressure during voiding, cystometric bladder capacity, bladder compliance nor free flow patterns correlated with treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Neither detrusor overactivity nor increased pelvic floor activity during voiding correlated with treatment outcome. Standard treatment could be the first choice in urge syndrome as well as in dysfunctional voiding, reserving urodynamic studies for patients in whom this first approach fails.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction in children with generalized hypermobility of joints.

PURPOSE: We assessed the relationship between general joint hypermobility (GJH) and lower urinary tract symptoms presenting as nonneurogenic bladder sphincter dysfunction in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of 89 children 5 to 12 years old who were diagnosed with GJH according to the Beighton and Bulbena scales were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning symptoms of nonneurogenic bladder sphincter dysfunction, namely daytime urinary incontinence, nighttime urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, constipation and fecal soiling. The control group comprised 116 healthy schoolchildren 5 to 12 years old. RESULTS: Constipation was reported in 19% of boys with GJH and 4% of male controls (p = 0.02). Fecal soiling occurred more often in the GJH group than in the control group (34% versus 18%, p = 0.07). In girls daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence was more prevalent in the GJH group (38% and 14%, respectively) than in controls (13% and 2%, respectively, p = 0.004 and p = 0.02, respectively). Of girls with GJH 24% had a history of urinary tract infections compared with 11% of the control group (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS In children with generalized hypermobility of joints symptoms of nonneurogenic bladder sphincter dysfunction are more prevalent. In boys this condition manifests as constipation and possibly fecal soiling, and in girls as urinary incontinence and possibly urinary tract infections.