Urodynamic Study

Urodynamic Study

Urodynamic tests used to assess to what extent the bladder and urethra work efficiently to hold the urine, evacuate, and how they work, used in assessment some pathological urinary symptoms conditions such as: UTI, Urinary Incontinence, frequent urination, the test illustrates the definite cause of the condition to be tested, and confirmation of the pathology the patient complains of. hence appropriate treatment will be provided. Urodynamic test carried at urodynamic laboratory units called conventional urodynamic test that depends on the artificial bladder filling and the ambulatory test carried outside the clinical setting and based on natural bladder filling. It used in the following conditions:

• It measures the pressure around the sphincter, the flow rate, and muscle function, and nerve as in patients with spinal cord injury.
• Mandatary with young and elderly males with lower urinary tract infection and don’t respond to treatment to understand the underlying pathophysiology.
• There is limited use with women with pelvic organ prolapse, which can be applied if the physician wants to correct the urethra with prolapse operation.
• Prostate gland enlargement.
• Women with incontinence, urine leakage
• Patients with spinal cord injury, according to the level.
• Detruosor overactivity.
• Bladder pain
• Problems to start urination and to problems with fully emptying the bladder.

Preparation for the test

Ask the patient to attend the clinic with a full bladder if you are going to do uroflowmetry, then change clothes to gown, then sit on the urodynamic chair for the test which used to measure the flow rate of urination.

The test used with the patient depending on the patient's complaint.

The patient doesn't use laxatives before the procedure to avoid undesired bowel movements, while enema may be used before the test if the patient has chronic constipation.

The saline is at room temperature (20 °C).

Uroflowmetry test

UF test common to be used with outlet bladder obstruction, the patient asked to sit on the urodynamic chair and asked to urinate to evacuate his/ her bladder in special equipment, that is used to measure the flow rate and connected to the computer giving a graph of the results.

During this test using simultaneous assessment for bladder and pressure of the rectum will help to identify the reason for abnormality if it is ms weakness or obstruction, difficulty in urination, if there is a blockage, for example, prostate enlargement.

As the feeling of a full bladder is subjective from one to another, inserting 1.5 ml of water within 1 hour after full urination is more objective and more reliable.