Assessment of the poorly contractile or acontractile bladder in the older male in the absence of neuropathy

[Descriptive epidemiological study of the diagnosis of detrusor overactivity in urodynamic units in Spain]

OBJECTIVE

To know the relative weight of the diagnosis of detrusor overactivity (DO) in the Urodynamic Units of Spain and relate the prevalence of the overactive bladder (OB) syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An epidemiological, descriptive, retrospective, multicenter, national study conducted according to registered data in 47 Urodynamic Units covering the Spanish geographic area in the different areas of health distributed among the regional communities. These data inform about the health care received by 35% of the Spanish population. Urodynamic diagnoses and related variables, recorded during 2007 and 2008, were collected.

RESULTS

A mean of 346.45 (SD=304.03) and 349.72 (SD=296.49) urodynamics studies per care unit were performed in women during 2007 and 2008, respectively and 181.20 (SD=212.71) and 195.68 (SD=257.58) in men. The relative weight of the diagnosis of non-neurogenic DO in women per unit was 31.39% and 35.28%, in 2007 and 2008, and in men was 21.06% and 20.43%. The diagnostic capacity of DO was 19.28 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year. The diagnosis of non-neurogenic DO in the woman accounts for one third of all the urodynamic/year diagnoses and more than half of the diagnoses of DO. In men, DO accounts for 25% of the diagnoses, the most frequent one being that associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, followed by that of neurogenic cause. Approximately half of the DO diagnoses in children correspond to non-neurogenic DO.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences between the capacity of diagnosis of DO (ratio per 100,000 inhabitants) is far from many of the estimations of the prevalence of OB (relationship %). The doubt may exist about whether part of this quota is secondary and not-idiopathic, given the large difference between the frequency of OB and the capacity of diagnosis of DO.

Detrusor contraction duration and strength in the patients with benign prostatic enlargement

OBJECTIVE

examine detrusor contraction duration (DCD) in relation with obstruction grade and strength of detrusor contractility; analyze individual correlations of this parameter with urodynamic, physiological and symptoms variables in patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

SAMPLE AND METHODOLOGY

102 patients with proved BPE, underwent complete urodynamic measurements (UDM), namely uroflowmetry, cystometry and pressure/flow studies. Postvoid residual urine (PVR) was measured and the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) was fulfilled by each patient. Methodology of measurement and definitions of UDM are based on definitions and terminology defined by the International Continence Society.

RESULTS

After grouping the patients (average age 64,7+/-8,5) related to obstruction grades according to the Schafer nomogram, ANOVA has shown a group extension of the detrusor contraction duration related to higher levels of obstruction (LinPURR 0-VI; p<0,01), which is also followed by stronger detrusor contractility (Pdetmax; p<0,001). Dichotomizing of the patients with DCD cut off point 90 sec. has shown that 67% patients with underactive detrusor have DCD>90 sec, while extension of DCD and increase of the obstruction level are directly related to preserved detrusor contractility only in 20,5% cases. There is neither statistically significant difference of DCD in the patients that are not in obstruction allocated in two groups depending on detrusor contraction strength, (t=1.2, p>0.05); nor in the patients who are in obstruction range, divided on the same way (t=0.568, p>0.05). There is also no difference of the same patients groups regarding PVR (t=1.38 and t=1.17, p>0.05). Individual correlation of DCD with I-PSS has not been shown (r=0.16, p>0.05), although there is a statistically significant correlation with its obstructive subset (r=0.20, p<0.05), as well as, with LinPUR and URA nomograms (r=0.33, r=0.29; respectively, p<0.005) and with Pdetmax (r=0.26, p<0.01), PdetQmax (r=0.24, p<0.05), Qmax and Qaver (r=0.31, p<0.005). DCD does not have individual correlations with patients' age, prostate volume and with cystometric capacity.

CONCLUSION

DCD is rather independent urodynamical variable, which does not correlate with I-PSS. Generally, DCD is prolonged during obstruction, while extension of DCD only partially depends on detrusor contraction strength. Practically, individual correlations of DCD with the urodynamic factors, which characterize obstructions, are modest.

A prospective evaluation of detrusor ultrastructural changes in bladder outlet obstruction

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the ultrastructure of detrusor smooth muscle from the bladders of symptomatic men with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) caused by benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and compare this with a matched control group; to determine how detrusor morphology relates to urodynamic findings and to develop a better understanding of the natural development of bladder dysfunction related to BOO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twelve men (mean age 66 years, range 52-77) with urodynamically confirmed BOO caused by BPE and 12 age-matched asymptomatic normally voiding controls (mean age 67.8 years, undergoing cystoscopy for other conditions) had detrusor biopsies taken endoscopically. The biopsies were processed for electron microscopy using standard methods. The specimens were randomized and examined at medium power (x 4000) by an examiner unaware of the urodynamic findings. Any ultrastructural patterns identified subjectively were noted.

RESULTS

In the BOO group eight of the 12 men had a myohypertrophic pattern, half of which were associated with a degenerative pattern of hypocontractility. Of the remaining four patients, two had the degenerative pattern alone and two were normal. The six men whose biopsies had a degenerative pattern had consistent postvoid residual volumes of > 150 mL; the remainder all had volumes of < 150 mL. There were no ultrastructural abnormalities in the control patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There are interesting qualitative ultrastructural changes in the obstructed detrusor, but they are not consistent enough to provide a reliable diagnostic tool. However, there may be an important relationship between the degenerative pattern and postvoid residual volume in BOO.

Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a widely used noninvasive screening modality for patients who present with symptoms of lower urinary dysfunction. However, it should be recognized that uroflowmetry represents the compound effect of bladder and urethral function because it may easily be misinterpreted. In elderly men with "prostatism", uroflowmetry is often sufficient to indicate treatment, while the value in women is less prominent. In pediatrics, more sophisticated urodynamic testing is crucial.

Update evaluation of benign prostatic hyperplasia: when should we offer prostatectomy?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate correlations between traditional and urodynamic criteria in the evaluation of prostatism and to try to establish an update evaluation of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with the aim of preventing unnecessary prostatectomies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The series constituted 96 patients aged 43-86 years (mean 63.41 +/- 9.25) with prostatism and BPH. All were assessed by symptom analysis, digital rectal examination, residual urine determination, uroflowmetry and further multichannel urodynamic testing (medium fill cystometry, pressure flow study).

RESULTS

Residual urine determination was not a reliable criterion for selection of patients for surgery. A striking statistically significant correlation was evident when symptomatology and the results from multichannel urodynamic study were compared. No correlation was found between irritative symptoms and detrusor instability.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion (23%) of the whole patient population was classified as a urodynamically unobstructed group to which we think prostatectomy should not be offered. We recommend that a pressure-flow study is performed in all patients with BPH with dominant irritative symptoms to identify those who are unobstructed.

The prevalence of prostatism: a population-based survey of urinary symptoms

To establish the age-specific prevalence of urinary symptoms among a community-based cohort of men, a randomly selected sample of men were screened and invited to participate in a longitudinal survey of urinary symptoms. The population of Olmsted County, Minnesota, as enumerated by the Rochester Epidemiology Project, formed the sampling base for this study. Men between 40 and 79 years old with no history of prostate or other urological surgery, and who also were free of conditions associated with neurogenic bladder were invited to participate. A previously validated questionnaire was completed by the subject. Urine flow measures, current medications and family histories of urinary disease were also obtained. Nonresponse corrected scores for a composite of obstructive symptoms showed moderate to severe symptomatology among 13% of the men 40 to 49 years old and 28% of those older than 70 years. Prostatism is a highly prevalent symptom complex among unselected men in the community. The specific urinary symptoms of nocturia, weak stream, restarting, urgency and sensation of incomplete emptying are strongly age-related and, therefore, may be predictive of a prostatic disease process.