Acute spinal cord injury--do ambulatory patients need urodynamic investigations?

PURPOSE: We compared the urodynamic parameters of ambulatory vs nonambulatory acute spinal cord injured patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 27 women and 33 men (mean age 58 years) with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction due to acute spinal cord injury (duration of injury less than 40 days) were prospectively evaluated. The patients were dichotomized according to the mobility for moderate distances subscale of the SCIM (Spinal Cord Independence Measure) version III into ambulatory (score of 3 or greater) and nonambulatory (score less than 3). Videourodynamic parameters including maximum detrusor pressure during the storage phase, bladder compliance, detrusor overactivity, detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia and vesicoureterorenal reflux were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients with acute spinal cord injury 17 were ambulatory and 43 were nonambulatory. Mean ± SD duration of injury at urodynamic investigation was 30 ± 8 days. The lesion level was cervical in 14 patients, thoracic in 28 and lumbar/sacral in 18. Comparing unfavorable urodynamic parameters, no significant differences were found between ambulatory vs nonambulatory patients in terms of a high pressure system during the storage phase (29% vs 33%, p = 0.81), a low compliance bladder (12% vs 7%, p = 0.54), detrusor overactivity (24% vs 47%, p = 0.1), detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia (18% vs 21%, p = 0.77) and vesicoureterorenal reflux (0% vs 5%, p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory and nonambulatory patients with acute spinal cord injury have a similar risk of unfavorable urodynamic measures. Thus, we strongly recommend the same neurourological assessment including urodynamic investigations in all acute spinal cord injury patients independent of the ability to walk.

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction--do we need same session repeat urodynamic investigations?

PURPOSE: We investigated whether same session repeat urodynamic investigations are needed in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 226 patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction who underwent same session repeat urodynamic investigation was prospectively investigated at a single university spinal cord injury center. Urodynamics were done according to the good urodynamic practices recommended by the International Continence Society. All 226 patients underwent same session repeat consecutive filling cystometry and 88 also underwent pressure flow studies if they could void spontaneously. Repeatability of the 2 measurements was assessed using the Bland and Altman 95% limits of agreement, and the κ statistic. RESULTS: Mean age of the 226 patients enrolled was 52 years (range 18 to 90). Of the patients 94 (42%) were women and 132 were (58%) men. Detrusor overactivity repeatability was excellent between the 2 urodynamic investigations (κ=0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.94). For all other urodynamic parameters assessed there were wide 95% limits of agreement for differences in the parameters, indicating poor repeatability. CONCLUSIONS: In same session repeat urodynamic investigations of patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction detrusor overactivity demonstrates excellent repeatability but all other urodynamic parameters show insufficient agreement. Thus, we strongly recommend that clinical decision making not be based on a single urodynamic investigation since repeat measurements may yield completely different results.