Urodynamic characteristics of mixed urinary incontinence and idiopathic urge urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the clinical and urodynamic findings in patients with either mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) or simple urge urinary incontinence (UUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 100 consecutive female patients with MUI and UUI were identified from a database. Patients with neurogenic bladder, fistula, urethral diverticulum, prior urologic surgery or known urinary tract obstruction were excluded. All patients were classified according to the urodynamic classification of overactive bladder of Flisser et al. and all patients underwent history, physical examination, validated incontinence questionnaire, 24-hour voiding diary, 24-hour pad test, video urodynamic study (VUDS), and cystoscopy. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of patients with UUI exhibited detrusor overactivity at VUDS, (67% of the patients with UUI vs. 24% of the MUI, P < 0.05). Patients with UUI had fewer episodes of incontinence (6.7 vs. 4.2, P < 0.05) with slightly less objective urine loss (24-hour pad test 94 gm vs. 128 g of loss, P < 0.05) and voided at higher pressures (p(det) at Q(max) 21.4 vs. 15.6 cm H(2)O, P < 0.05). Patients in both groups had functional and urodynamic bladder capacities that were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Women with UUI were more likely to exhibit detrusor overactivity but experienced fewer episodes of incontinence and less urinary loss when compared with women who had MUI. The "urge incontinence" component of MUI appears to be different than that of UUI, and suggests that urge incontinence may be overdiagnosed in patients with SUI who misinterpret their fear of leaking (because of SUI) for urge incontinence.

Anterior intravaginal slingplasty tunneller device for stress incontinence and posterior intravaginal slingplasty for apical vault prolapse: a 2-year prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the outcome for (1) anterior intravaginal slingplasty in the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence and (2) posterior intravaginal slingplasty for apical prolapse (> or = stage II). STUDY DESIGN: This was a 2-year prospective multicenter study: patients, 430; anterior intravaginal slingplasty, 144; posterior intravaginal slingplasty, 164; both procedures, 122 (552 tapes total). At 6 and 12 months, the results of the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, cough stress test, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation were assessed. Statistical analyses used paired t-tests. RESULTS: Of the women in the study, 95% (42 women) had a negative cough stress test result through 12 months (n = 44 women), and 96% (127 women) had a negative cough stress test result at 6 months (n = 132). At 6 months, apical support was optimal in 95.3% (143/150 women) and was satisfactory in 2.7% (4/150 women) and at 12 months, 98.1% (52/53 women), 1.9% (1/53 women). Seventeen of 430 patients (4.0%) had vaginal mesh extrusion. Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire scores significantly improved (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Anterior intravaginal slingplasty and posterior intravaginal slingplasty are safe and effective when performed with other procedures. For anterior intravaginal slingplasty, the rates of perforation and retention are low, but early extrusions are seen. Patients showed improvements in the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, regardless of extrusion.

Long-term followup of augmentation enterocystoplasty and continent diversion in patients with benign disease.

PURPOSE: We evaluated long-term outcomes in patients undergoing augmentation enterocystoplasty (AC) (with or without an abdominal stoma) or continent urinary diversion in patients with benign urological disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 76 consecutive adults who underwent AC (with or without an abdominal stoma) or continent urinary diversion because of benign urological conditions. The outcomes assessed were a patient satisfaction questionnaire, continence status, catheterization status, bladder capacity, bladder compliance, detrusor instability, maximum detrusor pressure, upper tract status, significant postoperative morbidity, need for reoperation, persistent diarrhea and vitamin B12 deficiency. RESULTS: The 76 patients (18 men and 58 women) were 19 to 80 years old (mean age 49). Followup was 1 to 19 years (mean 8.9). Preoperative diagnoses were neurogenic bladder in 41 patients, refractory detrusor overactivity in 9, interstitial cystitis in 7, end stage bladder disease in 7, radiation cystitis in 3, exstrophy in 3, postoperative urethral obstruction in 3 and low bladder compliance in 3. A total of 50 patients underwent simple AC, 15 underwent AC with an abdominal stoma and 11 underwent continent supravesical diversion. Of the 71 evaluable patients 49 (69%) considered themselves cured, 14 (20%) considered themselves improved and 8 (11%) considered treatment to have failed. All 7 patients with interstitial cystitis had failed treatment. Mean bladder capacity increased from 166 to 572 ml and mean maximum detrusor pressure decreased from 53 to 14 cm H2O. Serum creatinine improved or remained normal in all patients. Five patients experienced persistent diarrhea requiring intermittent antispasmodics but none had vitamin B12 deficiency, pernicious anemia or malabsorption syndrome. Long-term complications were stomal stenosis or incontinence in 11 of 26 patients (42%) with stomas, de novo bladder and renal stones in 2 of 71 (3%) and 1 of 71 (1%), respectively, and recurrent bladder stones in 6%. Small bowel obstruction occurred in 5 of 71 patients (7%), requiring surgical exploration in 4 (6%). CONCLUSIONS: AC and urinary diversion provide a safe and effective long-term therapy in patients with refractory neurogenic bladder but stomal problems in patients with continent diversion continue to be a source of complications.

Periurethral masses: etiology and diagnosis in a large series of women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the differential diagnosis of periurethral masses in a consecutive series extracted from a single tertiary urogynecologic practice database. METHODS: A patient database of a private urology and urogynecology practice with 1,950 women was searched for patients who were found to have a periurethral mass during the accrual dates of 1994 to 2002, and these records were reviewed for diagnostic testing and results. All women provided a history, completed a questionnaire, and underwent physical examination, voiding diary, cystoscopy, and videourodynamic testing; selected patients then underwent additional imaging. RESULTS: Seventy-nine (4%) patients aged 41.2 +/- 14 years were identified. Of these, 72 (91%) had been referred for evaluation of persistent irritative lower urinary tract symptoms or incontinence. Seven patients (9%) had been referred specifically because of a periurethral mass. Sixty-six patients (84%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 73%, 91%) had urethral diverticula, of which 4 (6%; 95% CI 2%, 14.8%) contained malignancies. Six patients (7%; 95% CI 3%, 15%) had vaginal cysts histologically identified as fibromuscular tissue, 4 (5%; 95% CI 1%, 12%) had leiomyomata, and 2 (2.5%; 95% CI 0.03%, 8.8%) had ectopic ureteroceles. Two patients had vaginal squamous cell carcinomas (2.5%; 95% CI 0.03%, 8.8%), and 1 had an infected granuloma. Masses were palpable in 42 patients (53.8%; 95% CI 42%, 64%) and in 37 patients either were encountered at surgery (n = 5) or were urethral diverticula diagnosed by voiding cystourethrogram (n = 32). CONCLUSION: Periurethral masses were encountered in less than 4% of our patient sample. Most masses were urethral diverticula; however, the differential diagnosis included leiomyoma, vaginal cysts, and malignancy. Masses were generally either palpable or seen at imaging studies performed during evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Pad test by mail for home evaluation of urinary incontinence.

AIMS: To present a simple, cost-effective, and convenient method of home pad test using the mail system and evaluating change in pad weight over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of nine kinds of commonly available commercial brands of urinary incontinence pads ranging from thin liners less than 10 g in dry weight to large diapers weighing over 100 g each were assembled. Two or three of each variety were individually weighed on an OHAUS LS2000 Portable Standard scale accurate to +/- 1 g. The pads were then wet uniformly with 20 cc of saline, placed individually in sealable plastic bags, sealed, and reweighed. Random groups of three pads were mailed by standard 1st class mail to the Urocenter of New York. The sealed pads were reweighed at 8 and 14 days from the original wetting. Concurrently, ten incontinence pads soiled with urine were similarly examined to confirm that there would be no detectable difference between urine and saline for the purpose of the study. In the second part of the study, 20 pads of the same type (13 inch-long pads with absorbent gel) were divided into 4 groups of 5 pads; each group was uniformly wet with 5, 10, 20, or 50 g of saline. These pads were mailed and reweighed at 7 and 14 days from the initial wetting. RESULTS: Twenty-four pads were used in the first part of the study. The dry weights of 22/24 (92%) of the pads were within 2 g of the average weight for their brand. At the first reweighing, 22 pads (92%) weighed within 2 g of their initial wet weights (Fig. 1). Only two pads on day 8 differed substantially from their initial weights: one pad appeared to have lost 4 g and another one 9 g. On day 14, 23/24 pads remained within 1 g of their day 8 weight and 1 differed by 2 g, and the total weight of the 24 pads on day 14 was only 4 g different from their initial weight (P = 0.71, Fig. 1). The soiled pads exhibited weight changes that were indistinguishable from the saline pads. The average cost of mailing the pads by 1st class mail was $4 and the average length of time in the mail was 5 days +/- 1 day. In the second part of the study, 18/20 pads had lost less than 1 g at 1 week, and at 2 weeks, 19/20 had lost less than 2 g when compared to their initial weights (Fig. 2). One pad had lost 3 g. Pads in the low volume groups (5 and 10 g) lost an average of 1.4 and 1.2 g, respectively, while pads in the high volume groups (20, 50 g) lost an average of 1.8 and 2 g at 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Dry pads of any single brand have a relatively standard weight that varies insignificantly between pads. Up to 2 weeks of delay in the weighing of individually sealed pads does not significantly affect the clinical measurement of weight at a variety of low (5 g) or high (50 g) volumes of simulated incontinence. Home pad test using the mail system is a feasible, inexpensive, and clinically accurate method of evaluating incontinence. Patients can be instructed in techniques for home pad test, allowing for greater compliance, and convenience for both physicians and patients.

Treatment of primary bladder neck obstruction in women with transurethral resection of the bladder neck.

PURPOSE: We describe the presentation, clinical characteristics, treatment and followup of a series of women with primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A patient data base was searched for women who underwent transurethral resection for bladder outlet obstruction diagnosed by videourodynamic study (VUDS) according to the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram for female bladder outlet obstruction between 1993 and 2002. A total of 37 women with obstruction were identified. Patients with neurogenic, traumatic, anatomical or iatrogenic causes of obstruction were excluded. Seven patients remained who had been diagnosed with PBNO, of whom all underwent transurethral bladder neck resection. Office records were reviewed for history, presentation, surgical treatment and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Seven patients were diagnosed with PBNO. Age was 39 to 81 years. Six of 7 patients presented with symptoms of obstruction, including a weak or intermittent stream and urinary hesitancy. These 6 patients had unremarkable physical examination findings with normal perianal sensation, anal sphincter tone and lower extremity reflexes. One patient presented with abdominal swelling, which on physical examination was found to be a markedly distended bladder containing more than 1000 cc urine. All patients had overt urethral obstruction on VUDS. In 6 of 7 patients obstruction was clearly at the vesical neck and in 1 the obstruction site was equivocal. Three patients were treated or had previously been treated pharmacologically with alpha-blockers. All patients were subsequently treated with intermittent self-catheterization. All patients then underwent transurethral bladder neck resection at the vesical neck and proximal urethra. Surgical specimens weighed 1 to 5 gm and showed urethral fragments or fibromuscular tissue without specific pathological findings. Followup was 1 to 10 years (median 3) and it included physical examination, uroflowmetry, post-void residual urine measurement and videourodynamic study. Six patients considered themselves cured of lower urinary tract symptoms and 1 was improved. In 1 patient the obstruction site was not clear. One patient had mild stress incontinence under rare circumstances not severe enough to require protective pads. The average change in flow was 6 +/- 10 vs 30 +/- 17 ml per second (p <0.03). The average change in voided volume was 194 +/- 170 vs 416 +/- 206 ml per second (p <0.06). Average change in post-void residual urine was 680 +/- 445 vs 173 +/- 366 ml (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PBNO is an exceedingly rare condition, which is easily treatable when properly diagnosed by VUDS. The presentation of patients in urinary retention in middle age suggests that PBNO may be more common in less apparent forms than has previously been recognized.

Effective treatment for mixed urinary incontinence with a pubovaginal sling.

PURPOSE: We assessed the results of autologous fascia pubovaginal sling (PVS) in women with mixed incontinence using a validated outcome score and identified risk factors for failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 131 women who received a PVS for sphincteric incontinence (SUI) confirmed by history, physical examination and/or videourodynamic study (VUDS) were identified from a database during the accrual dates 1995 to 2001. Patients with a urethral diverticulum, neoplasm or urinary fistula were excluded. Patients with SUI who also complained of urinary urge incontinence (UUI) and/or had detrusor instability that reproduced incontinence symptoms during VUDS were diagnosed with mixed incontinence (MUI). Patients completed a urological questionnaire, 24-hour voiding diary, pad test, VUDS and cystoscopy preoperatively. The diagnosis of SUI and UUI was further confirmed by physician interview. In patients with MUI detrusor overactivity was classified according to urodynamic criteria. At least 1 year postoperatively the validated Urinary Incontinence Outcome Score (UIOS) was calculated from a 24-hour diary, pad test and questionnaire, and outcomes in patients with SUI and those with MUI were compared. The study was powered a priori to detect a 20% difference in outcome score. Cured patients (UIOS 0) were compared with those who were not cured (UIOS 1 or greater) and univariate analysis was applied to identify the correlates of failed PVS. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients evaluated 33 with a diverticulum or fistula were excluded and 98 underwent PVS. Patient age was 45 to 84 years (median 66). Followup was 1 to 7 years (median 3). A total of 46 patients (48.5%) had simple SUI and 52 (51.5%) had MUI. Two patients were lost to followup (2%) and the procedure was presumed to have failed. There were no differences in age, hormone status, previous surgery or pelvic organ prolapse between patients with SUI and MUI. The cure/improved rate was 97% in 44 SUI cases and 93% in 47 MUI cases, which was a nonsignificant difference (p = 0.33). Analysis of the MUI group showed that patients who were cured and not cured had similar age, parity, urethral angle, bladder capacity, leak point pressure and pad tests. Patients with MUI who were cured had a higher number of voids in 24 hours on preoperative voiding diary (12 vs 8, p = 0.01), while those who were improved or in whom treatment failed had a greater number of urgency (5.6 vs 4.1, p <0.05) and UUI (5.1 vs 3.0, p <0.01) episodes. Univariate analysis of MUI cases showed that an increasing number of preoperative urgency and urge incontinence episodes correlated directly with PVS failure (r = 0.33, p = 0.038 and r = 0.35, p = 0.048, respectively). In contrast, an increasing number of voids correlated with successful PVS (r = 0.4, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Women with SUI and concurrent urge incontinence or detrusor instability have a successful PVS outcome at a rate comparable to that in women with simple SUI, in contrast to our previous findings. Increasing episodes of urgency and urge incontinence on the preoperative voiding diary correlated directly with surgical failure, while voiding frequently was associated with cure.

Outcome of urethral reconstructive surgery in a series of 74 women.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the results of vaginal flap reconstructive surgery of the female urethra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 74 consecutive women who presented with urethral pathology requiring surgical reconstruction were assessed for anatomical and functional outcome. Followup was 1 to 15 years (median 1.5). Outcome assessment included success or failure of the anatomical repair based on physical examination as well as voiding habits and continence assessed by voiding diary, questionnaire and patient self-assessment. RESULTS: A total of 74 procedures were performed, including 72 vaginal flap repairs (56 with a concomitant pubovaginal sling). Five vaginal flap repairs were performed with a concomitant modified Pereyra procedure and 1 was done with Kelly plication. A patient in whom vaginal flap repair was planned underwent a Tanagho anterior bladder flap procedure, 1 underwent extensive lysis of urethral and periurethral scarring with primary urethral repair and 12 underwent vaginal flap repair without an incontinence procedure. A total of 72 women with an average age +/- SD of 54 +/- 13 years were followed a median of 1.5 years after vaginal flap reconstruction and 2 were lost to followup. Of the 62 patients with preoperative incontinence 54 (87%) considered themselves cured or improved. Successful anatomical repair by single procedure vaginal flap repair was achieved in all except 5 patients (93%). CONCLUSIONS: Single stage vaginal flap reconstruction with concurrent pubovaginal sling and Martius flap graft has a high degree of anatomical and functional success for treating a difficult surgical problem.

Sphincteric urinary incontinence: relationship of vesical leak point pressure, urethral mobility and severity of incontinence.

PURPOSE: We examined the relationships among urethral hypermobility, intrinsic sphincter deficiency and incontinence in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 65 consecutive women with stress urinary incontinence and 28 with lower urinary tract symptoms not associated with stress urinary incontinence were evaluated with videourodynamics, 24-hour voiding diaries and pad tests, vesical leak point pressure measurement and the cotton swab test. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients with a mean age +/- SD of 63 +/- 13 years were studied, including 65 who presented with stress urinary incontinence and 28 who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms without stress urinary incontinence. The incidence of urethral hypermobility was 32% in the stress urinary incontinence group and 36% in the lower urinary tract symptoms group (p = 0.46). When stress urinary incontinence cases were stratified according to a vesical leak point pressure of 0 to 60, 60 to 90 and greater than 90 cm. H2O, urethral hypermobility was noted in 25%, 31% and 41%, respectively, a difference that was not statistically significant (p = 0.6). Overall incontinent patients with and without urethral hypermobility had the same median number of incontinence episodes (5, range 1 to 13 versus 7, range 1 to 15, p = 0.39) and median pad weight (39.5 range 1 to 693 gm. versus 33.5, range 1 to 751, p = 0.19). When patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency, defined as vesical leak point pressure less than 60 cm. H2O, were divided into those with and without urethral hypermobility, there were no differences in the mean number of incontinence episodes (9.4 +/- 3 versus 6 +/- 3.6, p = 0.17) or median pad weight (90 gm., range 10 to 348 versus 86, range 30 to 81, p = 0.76). The degree of change in the urethral angle did not correlate with vesical leak point pressure (r = 0.16, p = 0.24) or with pad weight (r = -0.23, p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Urethral hypermobility was equally common in this group of women with lower urinary tract symptoms and stress urinary incontinence. Intrinsic sphincteric deficiency and urethral hypermobility may coexist and they do not define discrete classes of patients with stress urinary incontinence. Urethral hypermobility did not appear to have an independent effect on the frequency or severity of incontinence. Patients with stress urinary incontinence can still be characterized by vesical leak point pressure and change in the urethral angle, although these variables do not always define discrete classes.

Urodynamic classification of patients with symptoms of overactive bladder.

PURPOSE: We describe a new classification of patients with overactive bladder symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The office records of 132 patients who presented for evaluation of symptoms of urinary frequency, urinary urgency and/or urge incontinence, and who underwent videourodynamics were identified. All patients completed a 24-hour voiding diary and 24-hour pad test. Data collection included age, sex, hormone status, number of voids and incontinence episodes per 24 hours, functional bladder capacity, pad weight and associated genitourinary conditions. Videourodynamics were reviewed and patients were divided into 4 clinical categories, including type 1-no evidence of involuntary detrusor contractions on videourodynamics, type 2-involuntary detrusor contractions present, and patient aware and able to abort them, type 3-contractions present, patient aware and able to contract the sphincter but not abort contractions and type 4-contractions present and patient unaware but unable to contract the sphincter or abort contractions. RESULTS: Average patient age +/- SD was 64 years +/- 13. There were an average of 13 +/- 5 voids and 3 +/- 5 incontinence episodes per 24 hours. Average functional bladder capacity was 306 +/- 146 cc and average pad weight was 94 +/- 165 gm. Associated diagnoses included benign prostatic hypertrophy in 28% of cases, sphincteric incontinence in 17%, idiopathic urge incontinence in 29% and uterovaginal or bladder prolapse in 17%. Another 11% of patients had bladder outlet obstruction, impaired detrusor contractility or neurogenic bladder conditions. Of the cases 72 (55%), 32 (25%), 23 (17%) and 5 (4%) were categorized as classes 1 to 4, respectively. ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in the number of voids or incontinence episodes, functional bladder capacity or pad test when individual categories were compared to each other. CONCLUSIONS: This overactive bladder classification stratifies patients according to degrees of awareness, and control of bladder and sphincter function. It may prove useful as a guide for prognosis and therapy. Patients can be stratified into clinical groups based on the presence or absence of involuntary detrusor contractions, the ability to abort contractions and the ability to contract the urinary sphincter in response to contractions. Limiting the definition of overactive bladder to apply only to patients with no proved infection or other pathological condition would have eliminated more than 75% of those in this sample with symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency and/or urge incontinence.

Evaluating incontinence in women.

Urinary incontinence in women has a multitude of presentations and can be a pure and simple entity or a complicated combination of overlying disorders. The diagnosis and work-up of the incontinent woman should proceed from the classic tools of medical treatment, as well as the history and physical exam, and should incorporate modern techniques of dynamic imaging. It is vital to remember that it is often not until a simple treatment has failed that we appreciate a patient's complex problem, and, for this reason, we advocate appropriate use of the available technologies in order to separate more carefully the straightforward disorder from the intricate and convoluted problems. A thorough investigation of the multiple dimensions of urinary incontinence in the female patient, using subjective and objective testing, is the key to diagnostic and clinical success.

Role of cystometry in evaluating patients with overactive bladder.

Overactive bladder (OAB) can be caused by a variety of conditions. We believe that cystometrography (CMG) is an essential part of the diagnostic evaluation, both in defining underlying pathophysiology and directing treatment. Essential to the diagnosis of OAB syndrome is some combination of urinary frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, and pain. CMG can be thought of simply as a provocative test to determine whether bladder filling, involuntary detrusor contractions, or low bladder compliance in fact reproduces any of these symptoms, and whether the symptoms abate when the bladder is empty or when the pressure decreases. At another level, the CMG has been likened to "the reflex hammer" of the lower urinary tract and, as such, provides important neurologic information. Finally, the voiding phase of the CMG is an essential component of the detrusor pressure/uroflow study, which is the only accurate method of diagnosing urethral obstruction and impaired detrusor contractility. Both of these conditions can coexist with detrusor overactivity. The treatment of OAB depends on the underlying cause. We believe that only by understanding the particular cystometric characteristics of patients with OAB can we determine the appropriate treatment. Urodynamic testing should serve as an essential part of therapy and guide future research in diagnosis and management.