Bladder Outlet Research Articles

Gender-related Fetal Development of the Internal Urethral Sphincter

To investigate the fetal development of the internal urethral sphincter and the gender-related morphologic differences of the bladder outlet. Thirty-seven (14 female, 23 male) fetal bladder neck specimens (mean gestational age, 19.4 weeks) with the smooth muscle complex of the internal sphincter were investigated histologically. After immunostaining serial sections in 3 reference planes (sagittal, frontal, and horizontal) of the bladder neck, the internal sphincter volumes and bladder outlet diameters were measured and correlated with gender and age of gestation. Between the 18th and 40th week of gestation, an exponential growth of the internal sphincter muscle with significant higher volumes could be observed in male fetuses compared with female fetuses (internal sphincter volumes, P = .006; radius of the sphincter complex, P = .001). As a result of this gender difference, the bladder outlet was significantly (P = .001) narrower in male than in female fetuses. Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between age and all measured parameters in both male and female specimens. The present study indicates a significant closer bladder outlet in male fetuses compared than in females. It thereby provides evidence of a gender-related functional obstruction in addition to a suppositious transient infravesical obstruction in male human fetuses.

Will more restrictive indications decrease rates of urinary catheterisation? An historical comparative study

ObjectivesTo determine if more restrictive indications for urinary catheterisation reinforced by daily chart review will lower catheterisation rates.DesignAn historical comparative observational study.SettingAn internal medicine department in a regional hospital in...

Traces: Making Sense of Urodynamics Testing - Part 6: Evaluation of Bladder Filling/Storage: Bladder Wall Compliance and the Detrusor Leak Point Pressure (Abstract Only)

This article defines the concept of bladder wall compliance, discusses various means of measuring or assessing compliance, and reviews its clinical relevance. Based on existing evidence, low bladder wall compliance is attributable to increased detrusor muscle tone during bladder filling or changes in the viscoelastic properties of the bladder wall that impede the bladder wall's ability to stretch. While one can identify the individual components that compromise compliance, the filling CMG is only able to detect whole bladder wall compliance (for example, the combined effects of increased detrusor muscle tone and compromised viscoelastic properties of the bladder wall). From a clinical perspective, whole bladder wall compliance is divided into two categories: normal and low. Low bladder wall compliance is clinically relevant because of its potential to produce upper urinary tract distress, and there is increased risk for febrile urinary tract infections, ureterohydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux, renal scarring, compromised urinary tract function, and urinary incontinence because of its direct influence on the bladder outlet. It may produce pain and pressure in the patient with preserved sensations of bladder filling. Low bladder wall compliance is associated with a variety of clinically relevant disorders, including neurogenic bladder dysfunction, pelvic irradiation, interstitial cystitis, and radical prostatectomy.

UNANI CONCEPT & TREATMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERTROPHY (A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy is a disease of elderly males. Modern pathy has described many causes and treatment of the disease. Unani pathy too has description of disease and the treatment in its resource books. The description is in different ways. At some places, it has been described in symptomatic form while at other places it has been considered as a disease. The disease has different names in Unani literature like Waram-e-unq-e-masana (swelling of the neck of urinary bladder), Insidad-e-mujra-e-masana (obstruction of the outlet of the urinary bladder) or Symptomatic description. Many causes too has been described regarding the disease. Now it Is confirmed that the disease is because of the hypertrophy of prostate gland. Though the name of the gland is not there, I have enough avidence that the same concept is available in Unani lierature also, As for as the treatment is concerned, there are many single and compoud drugs which are effective in the treatment of the disease. Surgery is the best option among the modern paths for the treatment of the disease. Nevertheless, this is also true that Most of the BPH cases are not the clean cases. Most of them suffer with debilitating disorders; have cardiothoracic complications, lung infections and other problems. It may be risky to operate them. The Best option is there. That is the treatment on Unani pathy guidelines.

The relationship of palliative transurethral resection of the prostate with disease progression in patients with prostate cancer

To test, in a prostate-cancer population-based database, the validity of the finding that in single-institution series, palliative transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is associated with an increased risk of progression. Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and END Results Registry, we identified men who had a TURP subsequent to their diagnosis of prostate cancer, from 1998 or 1999. The outcome of interest was disease progression, as defined by the initiation of androgen-deprivation therapy or procedures indicating progressive urinary obstruction. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the adjusted odds of signal events related to disease progression adjusting for the concurrent effect of the covariates. There were 29,361 men with prostate cancer and 2742 (9.3%) had a TURP after the diagnosis. These men had a mean age of 75 years and were unlikely to undergo definitive primary treatment. Men receiving TURP were more likely to undergo orchidectomy than men who did not have a TURP (odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.60) even after adjusting for differences in cancer-directed treatment, tumour stage and grade, prostate-specific antigen level, race, and age at diagnosis. These men were also more likely to have malignant urinary obstruction (ureteric and bladder outlet) than were men who did not have TURP. The requirement for TURP is an adverse prognostic marker even when this is adjusted for classical tumour characteristics. Although the exact reasons for this finding are unclear, consideration should be given to adjuvant treatment in patients undergoing TURP.

“Inside-out” Transobturator Tension-free Vaginal Tape for Management of Occult Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women Undergoing Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

To assess the safety and effectiveness of the "inside-out" transobturator tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the management of occult stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in clinically continent women undergoing prolapse repair. A total of 117 consecutive continent women (mean age and parity 66.8 ± 9.9 years and 3.2 ± 1.5, respectively) with significant pelvic organ prolapse and urodynamically confirmed occult SUI were enrolled in the present study. Surgical intervention included transvaginal prolapse repair and concomitant prophylactic transobturator tension-free vaginal tape. The main outcome measures were procedure-related complications, early and late postoperative morbidity, postoperative urodynamic SUI, persistent or de novo overactive bladder, and bladder outlet obstruction. No cases of significant blood loss, hematoma formation, or bladder injury occurred. Of the 117 patients, 6 (5.1%) had immediate postoperative voiding difficulties necessitating catheterization for >2 days. Late postoperative morbidity was assessed in 110 patients with ≥3 months of follow-up (mean 27.2 ± 17.7). Of these 110 patients, 7 (6.4%) had protracted postoperative thigh pain with spontaneous resolution within 1-3 months, and 7 (6.4%) had developed recurrent urinary tract infections. No cases of vaginal erosion developed. The functional outcome analysis was restricted to 92 patients with ≥12 months of follow-up (mean 31 ± 16). Of the 92 patients, 13 (14%) were found to have urodynamic SUI. However only 2 patients (2.2%) were symptomatic for a subjective and objective cure rate of 97.8% and 86%, respectively. Of the 34 patients who had had overactive bladder preoperatively, 22 (64.7%) had persisting symptoms postoperatively. An additional 4 patients (6.9%) had developed de novo overactive bladder symptoms, and 1 patient had bladder outlet obstruction. The prophylactic transobturator tension-free vaginal tape procedure is both effective and safe in patients with occult SUI undergoing prolapse repair.

Editorial Comment

While partial nephrectomy is an established standard for treatment of localized RCC, it remains largely underutilized. In a recent review of the NCDB, researchers noted only 27% of over 92,000 patients with clinical T1 disease underwent nephron sparing approaches in 20051. Moreover, the lure of laparoscopy and its more routine use in radical nephrectomy at times “justifies” overutilization of nephron wasting techniques despite the recognized implications on GFR and implications of chronic kidney disease2. Among those who perform complex renal surgery, the ability to reduce a herniated tumor in the renal sinus may be known. Failure to recognize this phenomenon, however, may classify a central tumor as not “partial-able” and thereby validate nephrectomy. Here we describe the concept of a tissue “ball valve” -- a notion familiar to most urologists who often refer to a median prostatic lobe “ball-valving” into the bladder outlet. We believe our description affords a conceptual construct of a tumor being rotated or released during resection out of a central point (i.e. renal sinus) into which it has herniated. The technique described in this manuscript is applicable to both the open and the minimally-invasive approach. To date, the anatomic characteristics that render a tumor amendable to partial nephrectomy are overly subjective. Masses that may routinely undergo partial nephrectomy at one institution may be deemed inappropriate at another. We have recently reported on the R.E.N.A.L – nephrometry score as a common language to objectify the anatomical complexities of renal masses in a simple, structured, and reproducible fashion3. Details and examples are available at www.nephrometry.com. We invite your feedback and suggestions.

Ubiquitin hydrolase (protein gene product 9.5) in the obstructed bladder: evidence for tissue remodelling involving a subset of interstitial cells

To examine the expression of ubiquitin hydrolase (UH), an enzyme which is part of the ubiquitin-proteasome system involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, to gain an insight into the cell types and processes underlying the tissue remodelling that occur after bladder neck damage. Three groups of male guinea pigs were used, comprising controls (not operated, four), sham (five) and obstructed (six). The bladder outlet was obstructed by implanting a silver ring around the urethra, which was left in situ for 2-4 weeks. Sham-operated guinea pigs had the same operative procedure but no ring was implanted. The bladders were removed and incubated in Krebs' solution at 36 degrees C, gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2, Tissues were then fixed in 4% depolymerized paraformaldehyde and processed for immunohistochemistry. We used antibodies raised against UH, cyclooxygenase type I and vimentin. Specific antibody binding was visualized using the appropriate secondary antibodies. Staining with an antibody to UH showed the presence of both sensory and motor nerves in control, sham and obstructed bladders. In the control bladders this was the predominant staining pattern. In the sham and obstructed bladders UH staining revealed additional positive cell types; cells associated with the outermost layers of the urothelium (the umbrella cells), in the lamina propria (the lamina propria interstitial cells (lp-ICs), on the surface of the muscle bundles (surface muscle, sm-ICs) and on the serosal surface (muscle coat, mc-ICs). All ICs stained with vimentin. The ICs within the muscle bundles (intramuscular, im-ICs) did not stain with UH. The number and density of the UH-positive cells was greater in the obstructed than in the sham bladders, suggesting a change in relation to the severity of damage to the bladder neck. The expression of UH implies the re-targeting of proteins marked for degradation in the proteasome. Increased expression of UH in the lp-ICs and sm-ICs shows that these cells are active in the early and late stages of the tissue remodelling resulting from obstruction. These results show a further subset of ICs that might be involved in the increased deposition of extracellular material and tissue remodelling.

Reevaluation of the Fetal Muscle Development of the Vesical Trigone

Fetal development of the interureteral muscle, a precondition of a sufficient opposite anchoring of the ureterovesical junction, and the muscle architecture of the bladder neck was investigated using immunohistochemical analysis. We investigated the ureterotrigonal units in 38 fetal specimens (16 females, 22 males) and 7 newborns (2 females, 5 males) at 9 to 40 weeks of gestation. Histology was based on serial consecutive sections of the bladder base. Anti-human alpha-smooth muscle actin immunostaining was used to demonstrate the time course of muscle development and arrangement. A much earlier developmental stage of the trigone muscle configuration during fetal life was noted than has been reported to date. The condensation of myoblasts located mainly in the dorsal wall of the trigone and at the bladder outlet was present beginning at 12 weeks of gestation. The trigone develops continuously as a single circular muscular layer corresponding to the posterior part of the vesical sphincter muscle. Muscle fibers forming the interureteral junction were demonstrable beginning at 14 weeks of gestation. There is a close connection between the trigonal smooth muscle layer and the vesical sphincter muscle forming the main part of the trigone by 12 weeks of gestation. Fetal development of the trigone, in particular the muscle architecture of the bladder neck, which consists of only a ring-shaped muscular layer, and the transverse oriented interureteral muscle results in a functional entity representing the anatomical basis for a competent ureterovesical junction.

Phosphodiesterase 5 in the female pig and human urethra: morphological and functional aspects

To characterize the distribution of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5), cGMP and cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKG1), and to evaluate the effect of pharmacological inhibition of PDE-5 in isolated preparations of pig and human urethra, as the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway generates the main inhibitory signals to reduce resistance in the bladder outlet and urethra during emptying of the bladder. After obtaining ethics committee approval, urethral specimens were obtained from three female patients during cystectomy, and from young female pigs. The specimens were prepared for immunohistochemical investigations and for functional studies in organ baths. Effects of sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil (1 nm to 30 microm) were studied in l-noradrenaline (1 microm)-activated or spontaneously contracted preparations, and on relaxations induced by electrical-field stimulation (EFS). Levels of cGMP were determined by radioimmunoassay. After stimulation with the NO donor, DETA NONO-ate (1 mm), there was greater cGMP-immunoreactivity (IR) in urethral and vascular smooth muscles. There was a wide distribution of cGMP- and vimentin-positive interstitial cells between pig urethral smooth muscle bundles. There was also cGMP-IR within NO-synthase-IR endothelium. There was PDE-5 IR within the urethral and vascular smooth muscle cells, but also in vascular endothelial cells that expressed cGMP-IR. In pig and human sections, there was strong PKG1-IR in alpha-actin-IR urethral smooth muscle cells that also contained IR for cGMP. Sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil caused mean (sem) concentration-dependent relaxations of the pig urethra which, at 30 microm, were 80 (3)% (11 samples), 81 (5)% (12 samples) and 64 (4)% (10 samples) of the spontaneous tone. The relaxation of L-noradrenaline-contracted female human urethra was 100% in response to 10 microm sildenafil, and 85 (15)% and 47 (13)% for 30 microm of vardenafil and tadalafil, respectively (three samples). Vardenafil or sildenafil (30 microm) doubled cGMP levels in pig specimens. There were no effects on cGMP levels with tadalafil. EFS (1-32 Hz) caused l-NG-nitroarginine-sensitive relaxations of pig urethral muscle that were increased in amplitude and duration by PDE-5 inhibition. At 0.1 microm, sildenafil, vardenafil or tadalafil significantly prolonged the mean (sem) duration of the relaxation at 4 Hz by 55 (19)%, 45 (14)% and 51 (12)%, respectively. PDE-5-, cGMP- and PKG1-IR is widely distributed in human and pig urethral tissues. Nerve-induced relaxations of urethral preparations were enhanced at low concentrations of sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil, whereas there were direct smooth muscle-relaxant actions of the PDE-5 inhibitors at high concentrations. Inhibition of PDE-5 might be an interesting option to facilitate cGMP-mediated relaxation of the outflow region.

1444: Oxidative Stress and Development of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Rat Bladder when Bladder Outlet is Obstructed Partially

1444: Oxidative Stress and Development of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Rat Bladder when Bladder Outlet is Obstructed Partially

Safety of carbon bead injection for incontinence in patients taking warfarin

Objectives To determine the safety of the use of Durasphere in patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation. Methods This case series included patients requiring long-term anticoagulation who also had intrinsic sphincteric deficiency or mixed urinary incontinence, and bladder outlets without hypermobility. All patients, with the exception of the 1 man in the study, were treated under local anesthesia with periurethral carbon bead injections, while receiving therapeutic doses of warfarin. Results Between 1999 and 2004, 20 such patients received carbon bead injections, on 36 different occasions, during therapeutic warfarin administration. Two complications related to the anticoagulation were encountered, one minor complication of a small periurethral hematoma and the other more severe, with a patient developing urinary retention and intravesical hemorrhage. Conclusions In most cases, the injection of carbon beads under local anesthesia in patients receiving therapeutic warfarin anticoagulation can be safely performed without reversal of the anticoagulation.

The effect of tamsulosin on the response of the rabbit bladder to partial outlet obstruction

To determine if tamsulosin treatment prevents or decreases the incidence and severity of outlet obstruction-induced bladder dysfunction in rabbits. Male New Zealand White rabbits were treated with tamsulosin or vehicle for 4 weeks with treatments initiated 1 week prior to sham or obstruction surgery. Cystometry was done on anesthetized rabbits 21 days after surgery. The bladders were then removed, weighed, and prepared for in vitro whole bladder studies. Responses to 32 Hz field stimulation (FS), carbachol, phenylephrine, and KCl were measured. Obstruction resulted in a significant increase in bladder weight, which was unchanged by tamsulosin treatment and a significant increase in micturition pressure in the vehicle-treated group but not in the tamsulosin-treated group. Compliance was significantly decreased in both obstructed groups. The vehicle-treated obstructed rabbits had a very sharp increase in intravesical pressure as the bladder reached capacity; this was not seen in the tamsulosin-treated obstructed rabbits. Tamsulosin did not change the pattern of modifications in contractile responses induced by bladder outlet obstruction. In vitro responses of vehicle and tamsulosin-treated obstructed rabbit groups in this study were similar. A greater micturition pressure was found for the vehicle-treated obstructed group than for the tamsulosin-treated obstructed group, which was probably due to decreased urethral resistance in the latter. On a functional basis, the higher compliance at capacity and decreased micturition pressure in the tamsulosin-treated obstructed group would be considered beneficial for bladder function.

The place of pelvic osteotomy in the modern era of bladder exstrophy reconstruction

Background The place of pelvic osteotomy in reconstructing bladder/cloacal exstrophy has been debated for some time; the experience with ‘combined’ osteotomy in primary and re-operative exstrophy closure at this institution is presented, with a discussion of the historical and scientific place of osteotomy in managing this condition. Patients and methods Sixty-eight patients had bilateral vertical and transverse iliac osteotomy between 1992 and 2003, and with outcome data available. Of 58 patients with classic exstrophy, eight were newborns, eight were deliberately delayed primary closures, 36 were re-operative after previous failed closure and six were bladder neck reconstructions where the bladder outlet was very wide, such that bony closure was felt necessary for successful bladder neck coaptation. Of 10 patients with cloacal exstrophy, nine were primary closures and one was a re-operative closure. Data were collected relating to age at closure, complications and continence outcome. Results The mean (range) age (months) was 41 (5–179) for re-operative closures, 12.5 (3–32) for delayed primary closures, 64.1 (38–79) for bladder neck reconstruction, 51.4 (6–165) for cloacal exstrophy closure, and 15 (2–45) days for newborn exstrophy closure. There was a superficial wound infection in two patients, pin-site infection in one, loose pins in two, and two had transient femoral nerve palsy. In two patients the procedure failed and they required further re-operative closure with osteotomy. Sixteen patients are dry urethrally day and night, 12 have had and four are awaiting bladder augmentation, one has a colon conduit, and 35 are awaiting a definitive continence procedure. Conclusions Osteotomy has a proven track record in the field of exstrophy reconstruction, and the benefit especially in re-operative closure is emphasized by the present results. The surgical morbidity with the ‘combined osteotomy’ is low, cosmetic results are excellent and the effect on success of closure is clearly advantageous.

The use of mutual information in registration of CT and MRI datasets post permanent implant

Purpose To determine the feasibility of registration of MRI and CT datasets post permanent prostate implant by the use of mutual information. Methods and Materials Five patients who underwent permanent 125I implant for prostate carcinoma were studied. Two weeks postimplant an axial CT, T2-weighted-axial, sagittal and coronal MRI, and T1-fat-saturation MRI scans were obtained. Registrations of MRI to CT and MRI to MRI datasets were performed by mutual information, an automated process of data registration matching all information in specified dataset regions of interest. Registration quality was evaluated by visual inspection, agreement with seed- to-seed registration, and histogram analysis. Results Rapid registration (<30 minutes) of CT and MRI datasets can be accomplished through the use of mutual information. All methods of registration evaluation confirmed excellent registration quality. Although D90 and V100 for the prostate were comparable between MRI- and CT-based dosimetry, dose to critical structures/microenvironments (anterior base, posterior base, bladder outlet, lower sphincter, bulbar urethra) defined on MRI varied widely. Conclusions Efficient and accurate registration of MRI and CT datasets following prostate implant is possible, and improves the accuracy of postimplant dosimetry by superior definition of the prostate. Definition of critical microenvironments and adjacent structures will improve dose and toxicity correlation and ultimately improve planning strategies.

Transurethral delivery of radiofrequency energy for tissue micro-remodeling in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

This initial human study was performed to determine the safety and quality of life impact of transurethral radiofrequency energy (RFe) tissue micro-remodeling of the proximal urethra and bladder outlet in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Forty-one patients with SUI were sequentially enrolled into four treatment groups and then underwent rapid outpatient treatment under conscious sedation using an investigational RFe delivery device. The device is passed through the urethra and palpably positioned by the anchoring of a balloon within the bladder outlet. Four small needle electrodes are deployed into the proximal urethra and/or bladder outlet submucosa, and RFe is delivered. No patient has suffered a serious adverse event in 6 months of follow-up. At 6 months, 75%-80% of patients in all four groups have demonstrated an improvement in quality of life. Two groups demonstrated statistical significance in both mean quality of life improvement and incontinence frequency reduction at 6 months.

Impaired detrusor contractility: anything new?

Impaired detrusor contractility (IDC) is a poorly defined entity that represents a treatment challenge for the urologist. The etiology of IDC is variable and may include neurologic disorders, inflammatory conditions, and pharmacologic and psychogenic causes. The gold standard for the treatment of IDC is clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Although well-established as efficacious and safe, CIC may be conceived as a major burden on a patient's quality of life and has been associated with urinary tract infections and urethral and/or bladder injury. Alternative treatment modalities for IDC can be divided into interventions at the nervous system supplying the bladder, the bladder itself, or the bladder outlet. We review and discuss novel and creative treatment options for patients with IDC that have been developed or tested over the past decade.

Sphincteric Musculature of Female Canine Urethra in Comparison to Woman Including 3D Reconstruction

The circular arranged sphincteric musculature of bladder neck of female dogs and women were studied histomorphologically. 3D reconstructions of the anatomy of the bladder neck improve the understanding of construction principles of the musculature of the lower urinary tract and help to compare both species. Our own investigations based on 12 adult female canine and 15 female human autopsy preparations. The special feature of our study was the extensive en bloc preparation of all the organs of the lower urinary tract and surrounding organs. The organ blocks were reprocessed in complete serial sections from the bladder outlet down to the bulb of vestibuli. Despite different detailed construction, in both species the striated sphincter musculature of the urethra is an independent morphological unit. There is no continuation of pelvic floor muscles to the urethra. In humans, the urethral sphincter consists of a smooth muscular part (m. sphincter urethrae glaber) and a striated part (m. sphincter urethrae transversostriatus). In the female dog, striated muscle fibres encircle the urethra in the middle third exclusively. In the distal third of the urethra, it encircles the urethra and the vagina. In the female dog, the lamellae of detrusor continue directly to the urethra. Throughout the cranial and middle third of the urethra, smooth muscle cell bundles form a homogenous compact sphincteric muscle originating from the middle circular layer of detrusor. In that way, no true bladder neck sphincter according to the m. sphincter vesicae in women exists in dogs. According to the smooth muscular part of the m. sphincter urethrae in women, for this musculature the term m. sphincter urethrae glaber is suggested. Despite a superficial resemblance, this study revealed a considerable difference of circular sphincteric muscle components between female dog and woman suggesting that functional studies in respect to urinary continence obtained in dogs cannot be attributed without qualification to humans.

Urethral syndromes in children.

1. Walid Farhat, MD* 2. Gordon McLorie, MD* 1. 2. *Division of Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Objectives After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the evaluation of a child suspected of having urethritis. 2. Delineate the screening tests that have the highest yield for urethritis in young children. 3. List components of a behavioral modification approach to treating dysfunctional voiding. 4. Compare and contrast physical findings in gonococcal and nongonococcal urethritis. Inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) may be due to infection, trauma, allergy, foreign body, or an undetermined factor. Certain characteristics distinguish urethritis in the pediatric population from that in adults. First, urethritis in adults and adolescents has an infectious etiology and always is the result of sexual contact; infectious urethritis in the pediatric age group is uncommon, except in sexually active adolescents or children who have been sexually abused by an adult who has the disease. Second, the variability and nonspecificity of a variety of noninfectious urethral pathologies may mimic infectious urethritis in children. Children who have urethritis may present with irritative voiding symptoms, such as dysuria, urgency, or frequency; possible urethral discharge; initial hematuria; or blood spotting on the underwear. Patients suspected of having urethritis are evaluated with a detailed history, physical examination, urethral smear, or urine culture. In girls, examination may show evidence of vaginitis, which is a common cause of dysuria after urinary tract infection, labial adhesions, or even sexual abuse; in males, results of the examination frequently are inconclusive. In infants, young children, and sexually inactive adolescents, screening tests that have the highest yield include urinalysis and abdominal ultrasonography (US); uroflow is reserved for toilet-trained children. The urine should be examined for evidence of infection or hematuria. Abdominal US can diagnose a variety of abnormalities, including bladder stone or inflammation, ureterocele, foreign body, or tumor. Uroflow is a noninvasive urodynamics test that assesses the ability to initiate voiding on command, quantitates …

Classification of vesico-urethral dysfunction

Classification systems of bladder dysfunction are mainly based on functional and urodynamic characteristics. Under functional aspects classification relates to disturbances of storage and emptying function and the behaviour of its components, the bladder and the bladder outlet. The International Continence Society established a committee for the standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function and recommended worldwide accepted standards of terminology. These standards are the basis for any classification system and should be used to facilitate comparison of results. In addition, classification of bladder dysfunction should be completed by a clinical investigation to define the risks of underlying disorder.