A comparison of flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic findings in women with lower urinary tract symptoms: can flow rate curve shape predict female bladder outflow obstruction or detrusor underactivity?

PURPOSE: To establish the correlation between flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic findings in women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive women with LUTS who performed a free flow study immediately before undergoing video-urodynamic investigations over a 28-month period. Flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic parameters were analysed. Free flow curves were defined into five categories: bell-shaped, prolonged, fluctuating, intermittent or plateau. Women who voided less than 150 ml on the free flow study were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 250 women with LUTS, with a mean age 48 years (range 18-83), were included. Bell-shaped tracings excluded obstruction in 89%. Prolonged flow rate curves diagnosed obstruction in 62% and detrusor underactivity in 8%. Fluctuating and intermittent flow rate curves were associated with urodynamic obstruction in 37 and 39%, respectively, and detrusor underactivity in 25 and 29%, respectively. A plateau flow rate curve was indicative of urodynamic obstruction in all three cases observed. CONCLUSION: Flow rate curve patterns can be suggestive of urodynamic diagnoses. Women without a prolonged void and bell-shaped traces had normal voiding urodynamics in 76% of cases, and the majority could be managed without invasive investigations. Patients with fluctuating and intermittent flow rate curves demonstrate a spectrum of urodynamic diagnoses with a third of cases having obstruction and a third of cases having detrusor underactivity. Plateau flow rate curve patterns are associated with urethral obstruction.

The efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in patients with previous failed augmentation cystoplasty: Cohort series and literature review.

AIMS: To investigate the role of onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX-A) injections in patients with failed augmentation cystoplasty for neuropathic or idiopathic detrusor overactivity (NDO or IDO). METHODS: A retrospective review of all cystoplasty patients who underwent onabotulinumtoxinA injection at a tertiary center between 2008 and 2019 was performed. Details including indications and time from cystoplasty, video-urodynamic parameters, onabotulinumtoxinA dose, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Telephone interview was performed for patients that requested repeat onabotulinumtoxinA injections. The interview included a modified PGIC7 and UDI6 questionnaires. A positive clinical response was considered improvement of overactive symptoms sufficient to merit repeat onabotulinumtoxinA injection and a modified PGIC7 of four or above. RESULTS: Thirty patients were identified (11 men and 19 women). The indications for augmentation were IDO (n = 18) or NDO (n = 12). Mean age at the time of cystoplasty was 42 years (range, 10-61). Interval between cystoplasty and initial onabotulinumtoxinA was 98 months (range, 3-271). Video-urodynamics before onabotulinumtoxinA revealed low compliance in 13 patients, DO in 22 patients, and combined low compliance/DO in 10. The median maximum cystometric bladder capacity was 338 mL (range, 77-570 mL). Thirteen patients responded to onabotulinumtoxinA injections. Higher peak DO pressure was associated with a significantly higher chance that the patient would experience benefit from the injections P = .026). The patients that responded to onabotulinumtoxin A underwent a total of 115 procedures (mean, 8.8 injections) over a mean 88 months (range, 20-157 months). CONCLUSIONS: Forty-three percent of patients responded well to intra-detrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections. This avoided the need for more invasive surgery and had a positive impact on their quality of life.

Buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty in men-risk factors for recurrence and complications: a third referral centre experience in anterior urethroplasty using buccal mucosal graft.

BACKGROUND: Urethral stricture disease is a challenging condition to treat and several approaches including direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) and anastomotic or augmentation urethroplasties based on the use of flaps and graft have been reported. The aim of this study is to determine risk factors for stricture recurrence and complications in patients having buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture under a single surgeon in a third referral centre in UK. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively gathered database of 128 patients having various forms of BMG urethroplasty between 2001 and 2015. Success and failure in terms of stricture recurrence, patient demographics, stricture aetiology and anatomy, and the adverse outcomes of: post-micturition dribbling (PMD), erectile dysfunction (ED) >12 months and complications were recorded in order to determine risk factors for recurrent stricture and complications. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 42.8 years (range, 16-74 years). Average follow-up was 45 months (range, 3-159 months). The total re-stricture rate was 19% (24 men). PMD was reported in 16% (n=20) and ED in 12.5% (n=16). All ED was none organic and responded to oral PDE5 inhibitor treatment. Post-operative complications were reported in 16 patients (12.5%). The most frequent complications recorded were urinary fistula (n=4; 3.1%), graft contracture (n=4; 3.1%) and graft failure (n=4; 3.1%), all reported after penile urethroplasty. Univariate analysis indicated that age at surgery, stricture length, site and aetiology were all significant risk factors for stricture recurrence. On multivariate analysis penile site was the only significant independent variable for restricture. CONCLUSIONS: BMG urethroplasty represents a reliable therapeutic option for patient with urethral strictures with a success rate of 81% at 45 months of follow-up. Complications are more common in complex stricture of the penile urethra. On multivariate analysis penile site was the only significant independent variable for re-stricture.