Urodynamic evaluation of voiding function in females with stress urinary incontinence

ABSTRACT

Objective The evaluation of voiding function in females with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with a special emphasis on the evaluation of storage function and the state of continence. Patients and Methods 176 patients were investigated for urinary incontinence-related problems at the Unit for Neuro-Urology and Urodynamics of the Department of Urology; University Medical Center Nijmegen (The Netherlands). The patients were classified into two groups according to their symptoms and urodynamic studies. Group I consisted of 103 patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI); while Group 2 included 73 patients with other forms of urinary incontinence or no urodynamic abnormalities at all. All patients were subjected to urodynamic investigations including uroflowmetry; static and dynamic urethral pressure profiles; filling cystometry and pressure-flow studies. Results It was noted that the bladder capacity as well as the average and maximum flow rates tended to be higher among patients with SUI. Some insignificant increase in outlet obstruction; as assessed by the Lin PURR nomogram was noticed. Detrusor contractility was only found to be significantly reduced in patients with SUI when the total Watts factor was compared in both groups. Conclusion When comparing both groups; significant differences were found in the filling cystometry as well as in the urethral pressure profile variables. Some differences were also detected with regard to pressure-flow studies and detrusor contractility during voiding