Diagnosis and management of patients with overactive bladder syndrome and abnormal detrusor activity.

Diagnosis and management of patients with overactive bladder syndrome and abnormal detrusor activity.

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Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2004 Dec;1(2):78-84; quiz 109

Authors: Semins MJ, Chancellor MB

Overactive bladder syndrome (OABS) is a widely recognized syndrome with symptoms that can include urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and incontinence. Although there may be several causative factors for OABS, detrusor overactivity is the most common. In addition, urinary incontinence can also be due to a distinct but equally bothersome condition underactive bladder syndrome, or detrusor underactivity. The incomplete bladder emptying that characterizes detrusor underactivity often arises from impaired contractile function of the detrusor muscle. The variations in etiologies of the two syndromes necessitate patient evaluations tailored to individual symptom presentation. Increased awareness of the differences between the manifestations of OABS and underactive bladder syndrome call for specific approaches to the management of bladder dysfunction.

PMID: 16474519 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Neurogenic bladder in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.

Neurogenic bladder in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.

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J Spinal Disord Tech. 2005 Aug;18(4):315-20

Authors: Misawa T, Kamimura M, Kinoshita T, Itoh H, Yuzawa Y, Kitahara J

We examined the urinary disturbances in 56 consecutive patients with cervical compressive myelopathy using the latest International Continence Society classification. Of the 56 patients with cervical compressive myelopathy, 29 (52%) had some urinary subjective complaints, whereas the remaining 27 (48%) had none. Urologic examination indicated that 8 of these 29 (28%) patients with urinary complaints had urologic disorders other than neurogenic bladder. Of the remaining 21 patients, only 6 (25%) were judged to have neurogenic bladder on urodynamic study. Urodynamic study may be of limited value in diagnosing urinary disturbance in cervical myelopathy. Further, four cases (83%) showed underactive bladder activity in voiding phase, and only one case (17%) showed overactive bladder activity in filling phase. These results were contrary to those of previous studies indicating that cervical compressive myelopathy is associated with overactive bladder activity in filling phase. There were no significant differences in motor or sensory Japanese Orthopedic Association scores between the patients with and without urinary complaints. However, the patients with urinary complaints had significantly longer durations of myelopathy and delayed motor evoked potential latencies than those without urinary complaints. After surgery, 19 of the 21 (90%) patients with urinary complaints showed recovery from urinary disturbance. Operations in patients with cervical myelopathy were also effective against urinary disturbance. Urinary complaints may be an indication for surgical treatment despite the results of urodynamic study.

PMID: 16021011 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Underactive bladder syndrome.

Underactive bladder syndrome.

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Nurs Stand. 2005 May 11-17;19(35):57-64; quiz 66-7

Authors: Rigby D

Underactive bladder syndrome causes difficulty in voiding, resulting in incomplete bladder emptying. This article describes common causes of the condition, patient assessment and the available management options.

PMID: 15915959 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Do BPH patients have neurogenic detrusor dysfunction? A uro-neurological assessment.

Do BPH patients have neurogenic detrusor dysfunction? A uro-neurological assessment.

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Urol Int. 2005;74(1):44-50

Authors: Sakakibara R, Hamano S, Uchiyama T, Liu Z, Yamanishi T, Hattori T

INTRODUCTION: Most men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are middle- aged and elderly. Neurogenic detrusor dysfunction (NDD) may also occur in these populations. We made an uro-neurological assessment in such patients in order to investigate the possibility of a concurrent NDD in patients diagnosed with BPH, and to correlate the presence of NDD with treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 28 men, mean age 66.4 years, referred by urologists at the outpatient clinic as BPH (initial diagnosis: BPH alone, 24, BPH and NDD, 4) with regards to digital examination and lower urinary tract symptoms, underwent urodynamic study and neurological examination. MRI scans were performed to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: Urodynamic study (except for 2, acontractile detrusor (AD)) showed equivocal obstruction (EO), 6; underactive detrusor (UD), 9 (voiding phase); detrusor overactivity (DO), 12; urethral relaxation, 1, and reduced sensation, 5 (filling phase). EO correlated with the presence of UD (p = 0.03). DO did not correlate with the prostate size or urodynamically-defined outlet obstruction. Reduced sensation was common in patients >65 years of age (p = 0.05). Neurological examination/imaging showed exaggerated reflexes, 1; decreased reflexes, 6; multiple cerebral infarction, 8; cervical spondylosis, 1 (in patients with DO); lumbar spondylosis, 5 (in patients with AD/UD), and the final diagnosis was made: definite BPH, 6; probable BPH, 9; BPH and NDD, 13, and NDD were common in the patients aged >65 years (p = 0.015). Transurethral prostatectomy and alpha-blocker were mostly successful, but the failure rate was reported in definite BPH, none, probable BPH, 29%, and BPH and NDD, 33%. CONCLUSIONS: BPH patients, particularly those >65 years of age, commonly have NDD. Multiple cerebral infarction (upper neuron disorder) and lumbar spondylosis (lower neuron disorder) might contribute to DO and UD, respectively. A uro-neurological assessment is important to select typical BPH patients for maximizing therapeutic benefit.

PMID: 15711108 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Combination of a cholinergic drug and an alpha-blocker is more effective than monotherapy for the treatment of voiding difficulty in patients with underactive detrusor.

Combination of a cholinergic drug and an alpha-blocker is more effective than monotherapy for the treatment of voiding difficulty in patients with underactive detrusor.

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Int J Urol. 2004 Feb;11(2):88-96

Authors: Yamanishi T, Yasuda K, Kamai T, Tsujii T, Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, Yoshida K

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of a cholinergic drug, an alpha-blocker and combinations of the two for the treatment of underactive detrusor. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen patients with underactive bladder were assigned to three groups: the cholinergic group, consisting of 40 patients taking bethanechol chloride (60 mg/day) or distigmine bromide (15 mg/day); the alpha-blocker group, consisting of 38 patients taking urapidil (60 mg/day); and the combination group, consisting of 41 patients taking both a cholinergic drug and an alpha-blocker. The effectiveness of each therapy was assessed 4 weeks after initialization of the therapy. RESULTS: Total urinary symptom scores (International Prostate Symptom Score, IPSS) remained unchanged after the cholinergic therapy, but were significantly lower after the alpha-blocker treatment (P = 0.0001) and the combination therapy (P = 0.0001). With regard to the total IPSS, there were significant differences between the cholinergic and the alpha-blocker groups (P = 0.0008), and also between the cholinergic and combination groups (P = 0.0033), in favor of the latter. The average and maximum flow rates did not increase significantly after monotherapy with either the cholinergic drug or the alpha-blocker, but they significantly increased after combination therapy compared to baseline values (P = 0.0033 and P= 0.0004, respectively). Postvoid residual volume did not decrease significantly after the cholinergic drug therapy, but decreased significantly after the alpha-blocker (P = 0.0043) and the combination therapies (P = 0.0008). The percentage of residual urine decreased significantly after therapy in all groups (P = 0.0005, P= 0.0176 and P= 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with a cholinergic drug and an alpha-blocker appears to be more useful than monotherapy for the treatment of underactive detrusor.

PMID: 14706012 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

A prospective controlled quantitative study of ultrastructural changes in the underactive detrusor.

A prospective controlled quantitative study of ultrastructural changes in the underactive detrusor.

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J Urol. 2003 Apr;169(4):1374-8

Authors: Brierly RD, Hindley RG, McLarty E, Harding DM, Thomas PJ

PURPOSE: We quantify and compare ultrastructural changes seen at high power on electron microscopic examination of detrusor biopsies from underactive and control bladders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The detrusor underactivity group consisted of 14 patients (mean age 64.0 years) with post-micturition residuals greater than 300 ml., impaired contractility and no obstruction on urodynamics. A total of 17 patients who voided normally voiders with residual volume less than 50 ml. served as the control group. Bladder biopsies were obtained endoscopically using cold cup technique and processed using standard methods. All specimens were randomized and studied at high power (x12,000 to x24,000) by an examiner who was blinded to the groups. All complete cells within each random grid field were counted up to a total of 500. The number of disrupted cells per 500 cells was noted. RESULTS: Disruptive cell profiles were found in all biopsies. Median cell count was 20 cells/500 in 14 controls and 96.5 cells/500 in the underactive detrusor group (p <0.001). The number of disruptive cell profiles did not correlate with age in the control group (r = 0.34, p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: There were distinct morphological changes in the detrusor associated with bladder dysfunction with approximately 4 times more disruptive cells in patients with an underactive bladder. However, there was no correlation between age and number of disruptive cells, suggesting that this is not a process of aging per se. Ultrastructure studies may have a role as an adjunct to urodynamics in the diagnosis of bladder dysfunction.

PMID: 12629365 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Modulation of viscero-somatic H-reflex during bladder filling: a possible tool in the differential diagnosis of neurogenic voiding dysfunctions.

Modulation of viscero-somatic H-reflex during bladder filling: a possible tool in the differential diagnosis of neurogenic voiding dysfunctions.

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Eur Urol. 2002 Sep;42(3):281-8

Authors: Carbone A, Palleschi G, Parascani R, Morello P, Conte A, Inghilleri M

OBJECTIVE: Despite evidence that the activation of visceral afferents modulates spinal motoneurone activity in humans, the circuits responsible for this modulation remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of urinary bladder filling on the excitability of somatic spinal motoneurones in patients affected by overactive bladder secondary to neurogenic and non-neurogenic causes in both patients with bladder underactivity and normal subjects by means of a urodynamic evaluation. METHODS: In order to evaluate the influence of bladder filling on somatic reflexes, we studied the H-reflex evoked by electrical stimuli applied to the tibial nerve at the popliteal fossa and recorded from the soleus muscle. The H-reflex was tested in the following conditions: (1). empty bladder; (2). medium bladder filling; (3). maximum bladder filling; (4). five minutes after bladder emptying. The H-reflex amplitude at empty bladder was considered as the control value. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, we observed a progressive reduction in the H-reflex amplitude during bladder filling. In spinal cord-injured patients affected by a neurogenic overactive bladder, bladder filling failed to inhibit the H-reflex amplitude; a decrease in the H-reflex amplitude similar to that displayed by normal subjects was observed in patients with a non-neurogenic overactive bladder. By contrast, H-reflex behavior was unmodified in neurogenic underactive bladder patients and was similar to normal subjects in psychogenic underactive patients. CONCLUSIONS: As behavior of the H-reflex varies during bladder filling in neurogenic and non-neurogenic overactive bladder patients as well as in neurogenic and non-neurogenic underactive bladder patients, H-reflex modulation may be considered a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of voiding dysfunctions.

PMID: 12234514 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Clinical symptoms and surgical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis patients with neuropathic bladder.

Clinical symptoms and surgical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis patients with neuropathic bladder.: “

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J Spinal Disord. 2001 Oct;14(5):404-10

Authors: Kawaguchi Y, Kanamori M, Ishihara H, Ohmori K, Fujiuchi Y, Matsui H, Kimura T

We evaluated the clinical and radiologic features of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with neuropathic bladder. Based on cystometrogram analysis, the patients were divided into two groups–the neuropathic bladder (NB) group: the NB+ group (23 patients), and the nonneuropathic bladder group: the NB- group (14 patients). The symptom of incontinence was characteristic in patients in the NB+ group. Patients in the NB+ group had a more severe neurologic disturbance, compared with those in the NB- group. The more severe neurologic disturbance was caused by the more striking finding of degenerative spinal stenosis associated with developmental narrowing of the spinal canal. Decompressive surgery had a beneficial effect on the recovery of the neurologic symptoms in both groups. Residual urine volume was reduced after surgery. Postoperative cystometrogram was carried out in nine patients in the NB+ group. It showed a normal pattern in six patients; however, three patients remained in an underactive pattern. Furthermore, four patients still required clear intermittent self-catheterization after surgery.

PMID: 11586140 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Influence of surgical bladder reduction on urodynamic parameters: three techniques investigated in a rat model.

Influence of surgical bladder reduction on urodynamic parameters: three techniques investigated in a rat model.

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J Urol. 2000 Jan;163(1):306-10

Authors: D’Hauwers K, Wyndaele JJ, Renty P, Poortmans A, Wuyts F, van Marck E

PURPOSE: Bladder wall wrapping and invagination have been used for the surgical treatment of the underactive detrusor and improvement of bladder emptying has been described. In a rat model we investigated the evolution in time of urodynamic parameters after 3 techniques of surgical bladder reduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Female Wistar rats underwent at random, a bladder reduction with vertical wrapping, the horizontal variant or invagination of the wall. Cystometry was performed before and 30 minutes after surgery, and after 1, 5 and 10 weeks. Sham operated animals had cystometries performed at day 1 and after 1, 5 and 10 weeks. At week 10 contraction of four differently orientated detrusor strips was examined in vitro. A histological study was done. RESULTS: Contraction pressure was not improved in vivo after 10 weeks follow-up. Capacity, despite an early significant reduction, became slightly higher than presurgery in both wrapping groups and even significantly higher in the invagination group. In each group residual volume almost doubled. In vitro some strips containing operated parts did contract more strongly than controls but not significantly. Strips which contain operated parts showed slightly increased fibrosis in the invagination and the vertical wrapping group and a huge amount of fibrosis in the horizontal wrapping group. CONCLUSIONS: This experiment indicated that the rationales behind the techniques of surgical bladder reduction are not correct. The partial successes in men may be explained by the original intrinsic deficiencies of the detrusor which prevent a secondary bladder enlargement as reaction to the volume reduction.

PMID: 10604381 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Common urological problems in women.

Common urological problems in women.

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Aust Fam Physician. 1998 Dec;27(12):1098-104

Authors: O’Connell HE, McKertich KM

BACKGROUND: Significant advances in the management of some common urinary problems have occurred in recent years. Problems that are likely to present to the general practitioner include urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, recurrent bacterial cystitis and interstitial cystitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to highlight the advances that have occurred in the management of these common problems and their management strategy in the primary care setting. DISCUSSION: The management of incontinence, particularly stress urinary incontinence includes an accurate diagnosis and treatment tailored to the condition identified. Urinary incontinence due to the overactive and/or underactive bladder is more difficult to cure but significant improvement can be achieved in the majority of people. While severe incontinence requires an accurate diagnosis, non-operative strategies without a urodynamic diagnosis can be used in the treatment of milder forms. It is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis when the patient is not improving with conservative strategies. The problem of recurrent bacterial infections is common in women of all ages but cure should be possible in the majority of affected women. While the enigmatic entity of interstitial cystitis is increasingly recognised in out patients the exact basis for this condition remains obscure. Symptomatic improvement is achievable to a variable degree in most patients.

PMID: 9919732 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]