BHN Healthcare Blog

When evaluating patients prior to surgery for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, the presence of detrusor overactivity is presently the main factor that is tested for via urodynamics, if urodynamic assessment happens at all. However, there are numerous factors which could influence the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence, as well as the surgical procedure and predictions for the outcome of treatment.

Diagnosing problems with the lower urinary tract requires a range of urodynamic tests to be performed, some of which require catheterization. This procedure can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for the patient, and also result in complications. Now, there is a relatively new, less invasive way to collect data in men that are experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms that are common in patients experiencing disorders such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The principles of the UroCuff, as well as reasons that urologists should offer the UroCuff test, will be discussed.

Disorders of the bowels require specific investigative techniques that are preferably non-invasive for accurate disease diagnosis. Here, the use of anorectal manometry for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease¹ will be discussed.

Disorders that affect the lower urinary tract are commonly diagnosed via a urodynamic stidu. If the disorder is not properly diagnosed, treatment is likely to fail. Here, a research study will be reviewed in which the value of urodynamic testing for diagnosing the causes of lower urinary symptoms in male patients was examined.

One component in the assessment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms is a screening questionnaire to better understand a patient’s disorder. This part of the process is especially important because the replication of symptoms during more invasive testing is critical for both diagnosis and treatment. However, there are many types of urodynamics incontinence screening questionnaires. Here, some of the available options will be discussed and summarized.

Urodynamics testing is considered the gold standard for assessing disorders of the lower urinary tract. However, knowing exactly when to prescribe a urodynamics test can be confusing depending on which published guidelines are followed. Here, urodynamic assessment and when these tests should be prescribed will be discussed.

We are often asked about urodynamics equipment manufacturers that provide equipment in the U.S.  We get several calls, emails, and social media inquiries a week regarding this.  We summarize the primary providers in this post.  We own and operate equipment from all of the manufacturers below, but the primary equipment we use is made by Laborie. 

Urodynamic testing is the gold standard for incontinence assessment; however, this method is not without
drawbacks. For instance, data interpretation is reliant on a number of factors, including the clinician’s training, proper use of the equipment, and reproduction of the patient’s symptoms during testing.

Urodynamic testing is an important consideration any time a surgery is performed involving the lower urinary tract or pelvic organs in women. Colpoplasty, which is defined as plastic surgery involving the vagina, has the ability to change the way the urinary tract functions for women.

Each urodynamic test has a distinct diagnostic purpose. Additionally, there are multiple ways to perform each assessment, which can affect the test’s results. Here, the merits of ultrasound versus catheterization for measuring post-void residual¹ (PVR) urine volume will be discussed.