Urodynamics

Urodynamics is the investigation of functional disorders of the lower urinary tract, i.e. the bladder and the urethra. Symptoms are particularly unreliable in the study of the lower urinary tract, so the purpose of urodynamics is to confirm objectively the problems that a person's symptoms would suggest. The typical patient complaints that lead to a urodynamic evaluation include:

To perform the study a catheter is inserted into the bladder. This catheter is used to fill the bladder with water and is connected to a machine which measures the pressure within the bladder both during bladder filling and during voiding. In some cases a small catheter is inserted into the rectum to measure the abdominal pressure during the study.

During bladder filling you will be asked to perform various maneuvers such as coughing and straining. X-ray pictures are often taken during the study to assess bladder and urethral shape and position. The study takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.