URODYNAMIC EVALUATION

An urodynamic study is a series of tests that will give us a detailed look at the function of your bladder and urethra.  These tests will help us to understand how your bladder stores and releases urine and how well your bladder and sphincter muscles work.  The concept is very similar to an EKG for evaluation of heart muscles.

Indication for doing urodynamic studies:

• Urinary incontinence
• Frequent urination
• Sudden, strong urge to urinate
• Problem emptying your bladder completely or urinary retention
• Painful urination
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Problem starting urination
  

The study will be done in our office and may take upto an hour or more.  There is no pain or discomfort during the procedure and there is no special preparation for these studies.  You may be asked to discontinue any bladder medications that you may be taking.

Urodynamic testing:

There are several component to urodynamic testing and they include:

• Uroflowmetry – This test will measure the amount of urine you void and how fast the urine comes out.  You will be asked to urinate into a funnel, base of which is attached to a computer that records your urine flow over time.  Please try to relax and void as normally as you do at home.  The amount of urine left in your bladder after you void may also be measured by either an ultrasound or catheterization.
• Cystometry – This test measures how much urine your bladder can hold and how much pressure builds up inside your bladder as it stores urine.  We will place a small catheter first to empty your bladder and then a very small special catheter with a pressure measuring balloon is placed inside your bladder.  This catheter has two lumens.  One lumen is used to infuse sterile water into your bladder as if bladder is being filled with urine coming from kidneys and the second lumen records the pressure within your bladder.  Another small catheter with pressure balloon is placed in the rectum to measure the intra-abdominal pressure.  You will be asked how your bladder feels, sensation of fullness, urge to urinate, whether you can hold, and also will be asked to cough or strain during the procedure.  Throughout the test, the volume of water and the bladder pressure will be recorded.
• Electromyogram – Electrode patches similar to EKG patches are placed on either side of rectum and the activity of sphincter muscle is recorded.  We may ask you to relax or tighten your sphincter muscle during the test.
• Pressure flow study – For this test, you will be asked to empty your bladder with all catheters attached and connected so that these pressure transducers can be measure the pressure generated by bladder muscle and the resistance in the urethra.  These findings will help identify bladder outlet obstruction.
• Urethral pressure profile – This test will measure pressure within different parts of urethra as the bladder catheter is gradually removed. 

After all these tests are done we will go over the results with you and your family and explain all the issues and how to take care of your problem.

Discharge Instructions:

After testing it is normal to experience mild discomfort or burning on urination.  Please drink plenty of fluids.  If you should experience excessive pain, fever, blood in the urine  or painful urination please call our office.