Nonneurogenic Voiding Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Clinical and Videourodynamic Findings in 4 Specific Conditions

Abstract

We determined if there were any unique findings regarding specific clinical manifestations and videourodynamics among our patients with nonneurogenic voiding disorders. A cohort of 237 normal children with lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated by videourodynamics and uroflow/electromyogram, and divided into 4 groups based on the specific urodynamic findings 1) dysfunctional voiding (active electromyogram during voiding with or without detrusor overactivity), 2) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder (detrusor overactivity on urodynamics but quiet electromyogram during voiding), 3) detrusor underutilization disorder (willful infrequent but otherwise normal voiding) and 4) primary bladder neck dysfunction. Association of lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary tract infection, vesicoureteral reflux and abnormal urodynamic parameters within each condition was compared. The only strong correlation between a particular symptom and a specific condition was between hesitancy and primary bladder neck dysfunction. Urgency was reported to some degree with all 4 conditions. The most common abnormal urodynamic finding was detrusor overactivity, which was seen in 91% of patients with dysfunctional voiding. The highest detrusor pressures were seen in dysfunctional voiding during voiding and in idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder during detrusor overactivity. Vesicoureteral reflux was seen in a third of children with dysfunctional voiding or idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder, in all 8 boys with a history of urinary tract infection and in 51% of patients with febrile or recurrent urinary tract infections with lower urinary tract symptoms when not infected. Bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and bowel dysfunction were most common in dysfunctional voiding. On objective urodynamic assessment pediatric nonneurogenic voiding dysfunction can essentially be divided into 4 specific conditions. These conditions have distinct urodynamic features that distinguish them from each other, as opposed to their clinical features (particularly lower urinary tract symptoms), which frequently overlap and are not as defining as they are often presumed to be.