Postoperative Urodynamic Evaluation Research Articles

Influence of ATOMS implant on the voiding phase of patients with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

To assess changes in voiding phase, especially urethral resistance after post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI) treatment with the Adjustable TransObturator Male System (ATOMS). A longitudinal prospective study was performed on 45 men treated with ATOMS for PPI, with the intention to evaluate the changes produced by the implant on the voiding phase. Patients with preoperative urodynamic study were offered postoperative urodynamic evaluation, and both studies were compared. The following urodynamic date were evaluated: maximum voiding detrusor pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate, maximum flow rate (Qmax), voiding volume, post-void residue, bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI), urethral resistance factor (URA), and bladder contractility index (BCI). The statistical analysis used were the mean comparison test for dependent groups (Student's t test) for parametric variables and the Wilcoxon test for non-parametric variables. The signification level was set at 95% bilateral. A total of 37 patients (82.2%) used zero pads/day at the time of urodynamic postoperative evaluation and pad-test evolved from 592 ± 289 ml baseline to 25 ± 40 ml (p = 0.0001). Significant differences were observed in Qmax (15 ± 8.3 before and 11 ± 8.3 after surgery; p = 0.008), voiding volume (282 ± 130.7 before and 184 ± 99.92 after surgery). BOOI (-12 ± 23.9 before and -2 ± 21.4 after surgery; p = 0.025) and BCI (93 ± 46.4 before and 76 ± 46.0 after surgery; p = 0.044). In no case did we observe postoperative bladder outlet obstruction, according to URA parameter below 29 cm H2 O in all cases. There was not a significant variation either in post-void urinary residual volume (15 ± 47.4 before and 14 ± 24.2 after surgery, p = 0.867). The ATOMS implant induces a decrease of Qmax, voided volume, and bladder contractility and an increase of BOOI. However, our findings suggest that ATOMS device does not cause bladder outlet obstruction.

Urogynecology

Urogynecology

Sequential urodynamic assessment before and after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy

Controversial data are available as to whether to perform a simultaneous abdominal or vaginal colposuspension operation in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy procedures. We wanted to evaluate the effect of a modified laparoscopic operation technique on urodynamic parameters and lower urinary tract symptoms. Prospective single center cohort study. Teaching hospital. Forty-nine consecutive patients who underwent a modified laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy/hysteropexy operation using bone anchor fixation and synthetic mesh, performed by the same laparoscopic surgeons. Pre- and postoperative multichannel urodynamic evaluation and validated questionnaires. The same urologist, blinded to the results of the questionnaire survey, interpreted all urodynamic evaluations. The effects of surgery on pelvic anatomy and patient satisfaction, urodynamic observations and diagnoses and symptom scores in validated questionnaires. Forty-two patients consented to pre- and postoperative urodynamic evaluation. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy successfully corrected vaginal vault prolapse in all 42 patients with urodynamic evaluation six months after surgery. The bladder volume at first desire to void was significantly increased and the maximal detrusor pressure at voiding phase was significantly decreased. In the questionnaires, irritative and storage voiding symptoms were significantly decreased. The results of the study demonstrate that there are no adverse urodynamic findings following this modified technique for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. The statistically significant urodynamic improvements are in accordance with the scores on the Urogenital Distress Inventory questionnaires. These results do not support a simultaneous routine prophylactic colposuspension procedure.

Urodynamic Findings in Patients With Currarino Syndrome

Currarino syndrome is an inherited disorder consisting of a triad of anorectal anomaly, sacrococcygeal defect and presacral mass. We evaluated the urological issues in patients with Currarino syndrome and sought to determine whether spinal cord detethering improves urinary tract function. We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients diagnosed with Currarino syndrome. We evaluated urinary signs/symptoms and urodynamic findings before and after spinal cord detethering. All patients with Currarino syndrome having a sacral defect and presacral mass were diagnosed between birth and 6 years. Of the patients 86% had a tethered spinal cord that was surgically detethered between 8 months and 6 years (average 3 years). Overall 10 of 12 children who underwent surgery had voiding complaints postoperatively, including urgency, frequency and incontinence. Five patients had recurrent urinary tract infections, of whom 3 had vesicoureteral reflux that resolved spontaneously. Three patients had mild unilateral hydronephrosis without reflux. Ten of 12 patients who underwent spinal cord detethering underwent comprehensive urodynamic evaluation. Of the 5 patients who underwent preoperative and postoperative urodynamic evaluation 3 showed improvement with resolution of detrusor overactivity or dyssynergia postoperatively, and 2 demonstrated no change. Of the 5 patients who underwent only postoperative urodynamic evaluation 4 had abnormal findings, including small capacity, poor compliance, detrusor overactivity, detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and/or high voiding pressure. No progressive denervation was seen on electromyography preoperatively or postoperatively. Currarino syndrome is a rare congenital disorder with few published reports regarding the long-term implications. Although no solid conclusions could be drawn regarding urodynamic improvement postoperatively due to our small sample size, spinal cord detethering did not lessen ongoing voiding complaints in the study patients.

The role of a surgical learning curve in urethral obstruction following autologous fascial sling: a case-series study

Iatrogenic female urethral obstruction resulting from sling operations may be related to surgical inexperience and must be better understood. Although there are no widely recognized parameters for this type of study, a single-surgeon consecutive series offers an opportunity to study the role of expertise in sling operations over time. This study consecutively examined 176 women who underwent an autologous fascial sling procedure. Postoperative urethral obstruction was identified by the occurrence of voiding dysfunctions. Clinically obstructed patients were invited to undergo a postoperative urodynamic evaluation after 3 months. To enable comparison, patients were placed into 6-month groups according to the time of surgery. A total of 159 cases were evaluated with a mean follow-up time of 32.4 ± 13.4 months. Stress continence was cured in 97.5% of cases. Although 29 patients were identified as obstructed, only 20 underwent a postoperative urodynamic evaluation. Only five of the clinically obstructed cases showed a high P(det)Q(max). All of the other cases met one or more of the non-classic parameters linked to obstruction. Overactive bladder was present in 14 (63.6%) of the obstructed cases. Iatrogenic urethral obstruction was more common among the early cases (30.4%) than among the later ones (5%) (P < 0.001). Postoperative urodynamic evaluation showed a trend toward obstruction on pressure flow studies. Autologous fascial sling operations require expertise and involve a clear surgical learning curve. Iatrogenic obstruction in females does not fit a single model and may be difficult to recognize. Obstruction in females must be identified through clinical indicators and postoperative urinary complaints rather than the high detrusor pressure observed in men. Furthermore, iatrogenic female obstruction can probably be minimized but not eliminated.

Réinnervation vésicale par création d’un arc réflexe « somato-autonome » chez les patients blessés médullaires ou spina bifida, un traitement d’avenir ?

The restoration of physiological micturition is a major objective for patients presenting a medullary injury, which is not possible with current treatment. Several recent studies have purposed some techniques for bladder reinnervation. Their purpose was to begin a voluntary micturition by the stimulation of an artificial reflex arc created by the anastomosis of a somatic root with a root innervating the bladder. We searched on Medline and Cochrane for articles in English. The keywords used were: bladder reinnervation, spinal cord injury neurogenic bladder, reflex pathway for micturition. These studies reported a variable efficacy as high as 85% of the treated patients. These patients could begin micturition voluntarily, associated with a significant improvement observed in their postoperative urodynamic evaluation. In fact, an improvement of the detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia and/or bladder overactivity was reported, and the patients presented a better quality of life by the control of their micturition associated with an improvement in continence with no need for intermittent catheterisation. However, these results were variable from one study to the other, and certain results seem difficult to explain notably concerning the abolition of bladder overactivity and the improvement of the detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia. Further experimental studies are still required, notably with animals to confirm the encouraging results of these initial studies, and to better understand the mechanism before possible routine patient use.

Comparison of TVT and TVT‐O in patients with stress urinary incontinence: Short‐term cure rates and factors influencing the outcome. A prospective randomised study

Recently, mid-urethral slings have been commonly used in treatment of patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). To investigate tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and tension-free obturator tape (TVT-O) for surgical treatment of SUI for cure rates (primary endpoint), complications and factors influencing cure rate (secondary endpoints). One-hundred and sixty-four patients were included in the study (n = 81 for TVT, n = 83 for TVT-O). The cure rates, complications, preoperative and postoperative urodynamic evaluation, Q-tip test, the Turkish version of Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) scores were recorded. At three and 12 months, the patients were evaluated regarding outcome measures. The cure rates were similar in TVT and TVT-O groups, 88.9% versus 86.7% respectively. Mean operative time was significantly shorter in TVT-O group (P = 0.001). The cure rate was significantly higher in both groups in patients with urethral hypermobility when compared with those with no hypermobility (P = 0.001). The TVT and TVT-O procedures appear to be equally effective for the treatment of SUI. Also, urethral hypermobility seems to be a factor influencing cure rate of mid-urethral slings.

525: Bladder Dysfunction After Bilateral Extra Vesical Ureteral Reimplantation: Pre- and Postoperative Urodynamic Evaluation

525: Bladder Dysfunction After Bilateral Extra Vesical Ureteral Reimplantation: Pre- and Postoperative Urodynamic Evaluation

Pediatric Urinary Incontinence: Evaluation of Bladder Wall Wraparound Sling Procedure

In 1996 a surgical procedure for sphincter deficiency was reported in patients with neurogenic urinary incontinence. To our knowledge we report the first series that assesses this procedure since it was initially described. Seven female and 7 male patients with spinal dysraphism and neurogenic intrinsic sphincter deficiency underwent surgery between 1997 and 2005. All patients had an associated poorly compliant or small capacity bladder. Patient age ranged from 8 to 22 years (mean 14) and all patients presented with persistent urinary incontinence despite intermittent catheterization and pharmacotherapy. Evaluation was based on clinical examination, as well as preoperative and postoperative urodynamic assessments. The surgical procedure involved wrapping a pedicle strip of anterior bladder wall around the bladder neck and fixing it on the pubic symphysis. Bladder augmentation cystoplasty was also routinely performed during the same procedure. Of 14 patients 13 were completely dry and 1 had stress incontinence. Followup was 2 to 8 years (mean 5). Postoperative urodynamic evaluation showed a maximum urethral pressure increase of 40%. We also observed an increase in bladder capacity of 105% and improved bladder compliance (7 ml/cm H(2)O preoperatively vs 35 ml/cm H(2)O postoperatively). The bladder wall wraparound sling procedure provides excellent results for continence in association with bladder augmentation.

The effects of detethering on the urodynamics profile in children with a tethered cord

Tethering of the spinal cord is a pathological fixation of the cord in the vertebral column that can result in neurogenic bladder dysfunction and other neurological problems. It occurs in patients with closed spinal dysraphisms and those in whom postoperative scarring develops following spina bifida closure procedures. The authors of this study sought to determine the effects of detethering on the urodynamic profile of children with a tethered cord. The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of children who underwent surgical release of a tethered cord at a single institution between 2001 and 2003. They identified 17 children (nine girls and eight boys) who had undergone both preoperative and postoperative urodynamic evaluation. Preoperatively, 10 (59%) of the children with a tethered cord had abnormal urodynamic study (UDS) results. Only two (20%) of these patients had urological symptoms. All seven patients with normal preoperative UDS results had normal UDS results after detethering. In addition, in five (50%) of the 10 children with abnormal preoperative UDS results, the postoperative UDS demonstrated improved or normal urodynamics. Because more than half of the children who underwent detethering were found to have abnormal preoperative UDS results, preoperative urodynamic evaluation should be performed in all cases in which detethering is considered. With regard to voiding function, detethering is relatively safe for children with normal preoperative UDS results. In children with abnormal preoperative UDS results, detethering may lead to improvement or even normalization of voiding, especially if the procedure is performed prior to 1 year of age. Finally, children with anorectal anomalies and a tethered cord may represent a subset of patients who are particularly likely to experience urodynamic improvement after detethering.

Comparison of Orthotopic Sigmoid and Ileal Neobladders: Continence and Urodynamic Parameters

Objectives: The objective this of the study was to compare continence rates and urodynamic parameters among patients who had undergone orthotopic bladder substitution with sigmoid or ileal segments. Methods: Continent urinary reservoirs were constructed in 112 patients. Fifty patients received a sigmoid neobladder (SN) and 62 patients an ileal neobladder (IN). Thirty-four patients with an SN (mean age 64.4 years), and 20 with an IN (mean age 57.8 years) agreed to postoperative urodynamic evaluation at a median time after surgery of 18 and 37 months, respectively. Continence and urodynamic parameters were compared in both groups. Results: The average reservoir capacity of the SN (296 ml) was lower than the IN (546 ml). The majority of patients voided by the Valsalva maneuver and achieved good peak flow rates [SN group 16.6 (range 7–32) ml/s, IN group 25.5 (range 5–35) ml/s]. Of the patients with an SN 26 (76%) and with an IN 15 (75%) emptied to near completion with a post-void residual (PVR) of less than 100 ml. Daytime continence was achieved in 90% of IN patients and 85% of SN patients. Only 9% of patients with an SN and 60% of patients with an IN were continent at night. Conclusion: A neobladder constructed from detubularized ileum or sigmoid achieves adequate capacity with a satisfactory daytime continence rate. Nighttime incontinence in patients with IN can be at least partly explained by periods of high pressure due to neobladder contractions in combination with a relaxed sphincter during sleep. The low nighttime continence rate of the SN is probably related to its small functional capacity.

Pubovaginal sling in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence for urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincteric deficiency

This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of pubovaginal sling for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in patients with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency and patients with urethral hypermobility. Sixty-two patients aging 22 to 73 years-old (mean = 49.6) with a median parity of 4.1 (range 0 - 14) who underwent pubovaginal autologous fascial sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence from August/1999 to August/2002 were prospectively analyzed. Objective pre and postoperative urodynamic evaluation was performed in all cases. The patients were divided into 2 groups: thirty-nine patients (62.9%) with urethral hypermobility (Valsalva leak point pressure equal or superior to 60 cm of H(2)O) and twenty-three patients (37.1%) with intrinsic sphincteric insufficiency (Valsalva leak point pressure below 60 cm of H(2)O). The average follow-up period was 24.8 months, ranging from 3 to 38 months. Three patients (4.8%) had detrusor overactivity before the operation, and 36 patients (58.1%) had voiding dysfunction before surgery. The postoperative objective cure rate was 88.7% for stress urinary incontinence. The study also showed that 32.2% of the patients had voiding dysfunction and 11.3% had detrusor overactivity. The mean hospital stay was 3.1 days (range 2 - 4). No difference in the above parameters was noticed between patients with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency and those with urethral hypermobility. Construction of a pubovaginal sling is an effective technique for the relief of severe stress urinary incontinence, for both patients with urethral hipermobility and with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency, having a cure rate of 88.7%. The high frequency of postoperative voiding urgency was not related to the detrusor overactivity as evaluated by urodynamic studies.

Pubic Bone Anchoring Devices for the Surgical Treatment of Urinary Stress Incontinence in Patients with Severe Genital Prolapse

The aim of this study was to test a surgical technique for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence associated with genital prolapse through a transvaginal suspension anchored to the pubic bone. Thirty-seven patients with severe genital prolapse and urodynamically proven stress incontinence were operated on with this procedure from February 1998 to May 2000. Preoperatively a detailed history, pelvic examination and urodynamic studies were carried out. The degree of prolapse was assessed pre- and postoperatively in the lithotomy position in accordance with the classification proposed by Baden and Walker [8]. Two titanium bone screws with no. 1 polypropylene sutures attached to them and a battery-operated screw inserter are used to fix the vaginal sutures to the pubic bone bilaterally. The procedure is performed transvaginally with no abdominal or suprapubic incisions. Objective outcomes were assessed by symptom assessment, clinical examination and a full urodynamic evaluation at 6 months postoperatively, and annually by clinical evaluation. Subjective outcomes were assessed by directly interviewing the patients about their postoperative urinary symptoms and asking them to classify their level of satisfaction. An objective cure rate (no objective loss of urine during coughing in the absence of a simultaneous detrusor contraction) at the 6-month postoperative urodynamic evaluation was observed in 23 of 37 patients (62%). Recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse (grade 2) had developed in 7 of 37 patients (27%). Subjectively, 73% of the patients expressed satisfaction with the procedure. Early results using two bone screws into the pubis to fix the periurethral and perivesical tissues and vagina to the posterior surface of the pubic bone were disappointing. Based on our results we have abandoned the use of this procedure to correct stress incontinence associated with severe genital prolapse.

Combined genitourinary prolapse repair and prophylactic tension-free vaginal tape in women with severe prolapse and occult stress urinary incontinence: preliminary results

Objectives. Continent patients with a positive stress test demonstrated on repositioning of severe genitourinary prolapse are considered to be at high risk of developing postoperative symptomatic stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Our aim was to evaluate in a prospective study whether a prophylactic, tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, performed during prolapse repair, may prevent the development of postoperative SUI in these women. Methods. Thirty consecutive, clinically continent women (mean age 64.5 ± 9.04 years) with severe genitourinary prolapse and occult SUI were prospectively enrolled. Occult SUI was defined as a positive stress test with repositioning of the prolapse during the preoperative urodynamic studies. All patients had urethral hypermobility; none had intrinsic sphincter deficiency. In addition to genitourinary prolapse repair, these patients underwent concomitant TVT to prevent postoperative SUI. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year. Repeated urodynamic studies were performed at 3 to 6 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were postoperative SUI, persistent or de novo detrusor instability, and recurrence of prolapse. Results. The mean duration of follow-up was 14.25 ± 3.08 months (range 12 to 24). None of the patients developed postoperative symptomatic SUI. However, three asymptomatic patients (10%) had a positive stress test during their postoperative urodynamic evaluation. Nine patients (30%) had detrusor instability before surgery, which persisted in six (66%) postoperatively. Postoperative de novo detrusor instability was diagnosed in four other patients (13.33%). None of the patients had recurrent urogenital prolapse, nor did they have clinical evidence of bladder outlet obstruction. Conclusions. The preliminary results of TVT as a prophylactic procedure in clinically continent women with severe prolapse and occult SUI are encouraging. Long-term follow-up is required to confirm the durability of these results.

Mersilene mesh sling: Short- and long-term clinical and urodynamic outcomes

Objective: We sought to determine the long-term efficacy, safety, and urodynamic effects of the Mersilene mesh suburethral sling in treating complicated forms of genuine stress incontinence. Study Design: Two hundred women diagnosed with genuine stress incontinence, complicated by recurrence, intrinsic sphincter deficiency, or chronically increased intraabdominal pressure underwent a suburethral mesh sling procedure (Mersilene; Ethicon Inc, Somerville, NJ). They were monitored with yearly clinical examinations plus short- and long-term postoperative urodynamic evaluations; statistical analysis was carried out by use of the Friedman 2-way analysis by rank, Fischer-Freeman-Halton exact testing, analysis of variance for repeated measures, Wilcoxon, exact Mann-Whitney U test, and Bonferroni paired t test. Of 176 patients who were 5 months or more postop, 127 (72%) had preoperative and short-term postoperative urodynamic evaluations (range 5 to 23 months, mean 12.6 months). Fifty-two of 117 women who were more than 19 months postop (44%) completed preoperative and long-term postoperative urodynamic evaluations at a mean of 63 months (range 20 to 107). One hundred thirty-six of 176 patients (77%) who were more than 4 months postop had a short- and/or long- term postoperative urodynamic evaluation (range 5 to 107 months, mean 30 months). Results: Objective cure rate by stress test was 93% (126 of 136 patients) at a mean of 30 months follow-up. The long-term objective cure rate was 94% (49 of 52). Subjectively, the short- and long-term cure rates were 95.3% and 90.4%, respectively. The cotton swab angle deflection decreased by a mean of 54 degrees at 1 year and 50 degrees at 5 years. Of the 10 failures, the mean preoperative cotton swab straining angle was 19.6 degrees, with 6 being < 30 degrees. Nineteen patients had a negative preoperative cotton swab angle test result (mean straining angle 15 degrees before operation, –6 degrees after operation) and a long-term cure rate of 67%. The objective cure rate in patients with positive cotton swab angle results monitored long term (mean 62 months) was 100% (41 of 41). The postvoid residual increased by a mean of 25 mL short term and 10 mL long term. Thirty-eight patients (19%) had a total of 43 complications. Seven patients (3.5%) had long-term retention. De novo detrusor instability occurred in 12 patients (8.8%), although it was cured in 6 (4.4%). Eight patients (4%) had vaginal or inguinal sling erosion and were healed after revision. Delayed healing at the vaginal sling site responded completely to estrogen cream in two (1%) patients. Five women had treatable vaginal stenosis, 5 had a local inguinal collection/infection unrelated to the mesh, and 3 required a 2-unit transfusion of packed red blood cells. One patient each had an entrapped nerve released, a cystotomy repaired, or experienced thigh numbness or groin pain. Conclusions: The suburethral Mersilene mesh sling has a very high long-term objective and subjective cure rate in the treatment of complicated forms of genuine stress incontinence. Frequent complications do occur but are remediable. The 33% failure rate among patients with a preoperative negative cotton swab angle test result and the very low cotton swab straining angle among the 7% who had sling failures further confirms the widely held belief that sling urethropexy in the absence of hypermobility lacks efficacy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:32-40.)

Effects of pubovaginal sling procedure on patients with urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincteric deficiency: Would they do it again?

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the cure rate of stress urinary incontinence, long-term effects on other lower urinary tract symptoms, and quality of life in a cohort of patients who underwent pubovaginal sling procedures for treatment of incontinence related to intrinsic sphincteric deficiency and urethral hypermobility. Study Design: This was a retrospective analysis of 57 patients with 90% follow-up who underwent pubovaginal autologous fascial sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence related to urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincteric deficiency. Objective postoperative urodynamic evaluation was performed in 34 (60%) of the cases. Telephone interviews to assess quality-of-life parameters were performed in all cases. Results: The mean follow-up period was 42 months and the median follow-up period was 34 months, with a range of 0.5 to 134 months. The age at the time of the sling procedure ranged from 18 to 84 years, with a median parity of 3.0 (range, 0-6). Preoperative body mass index ranged from 19.5 to 39.1 kg/m2. Five percent of patients had detrusor instability before the operation. Forty-one percent (41%) of the patients who underwent postoperative urodynamic evaluation had voiding dysfunction. The postoperative objective cure rate for stress urinary incontinence was 97%. Of all patients 88% indicated that the sling had improved the quality of life, 84% indicated that the sling relieved the incontinence in the long-term, and 82% would choose to undergo the procedure again. Conclusion: Construction of a pubovaginal sling is an effective technique for relief of severe stress urinary incontinence. Voiding dysfunction is a common side effect. Despite this problem, a significant number of patients would elect to undergo the procedure again. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:14-9.)

Editorial comment

Klutke et al. present their evaluation of 132 patients who underwent corrective surgery for genuine stress urinary incontinence. All patients were urodynamically evaluated before surgery and 1 year postoperatively. They compared the results of the Burch retropubic urethropexy, anterior vaginal repair, and the modified Pereyra procedure. Postoperative urodynamic evaluation recorded voiding pressures and flow rates. It is a commendable effort on their part to give us some insight into the possible mechanism of function of the surgical interventions used to correct genuine urinary incontinence. Their success rate was 87% with the Burch retropubic suspension, 70% with vaginal suspension, and 69% with anterior vaginal repair 1 year postoperatively. They came to the conclusion that the Burch retropubic suspension gave the highest success rate, but also had the highest percentage of patients with obstructed voiding patterns. They also came to the conclusion that this was a desirable outcome, assuming this success rate is tied to the obstructed outcome. This conclusion is really a matter of the interpretation of their findings. They stated that of their group of 76 patients who underwent successful retropubic suspension, 9 of them had equivocal voiding patterns preoperatively. One year postoperatively, they had 8 patients who had obstructed patterns and another 20 patients who were in the equivocal obstructed pattern. It seems as if those 8 patients with definite obstructed voiding pattern postoperatively were among the original 9 patients who had an equivocal obstructed pattern preoperatively. Again, looking carefully at their charts, the 20 patients who were in the equivocal obstructed group postoperatively were really voiding with pressures no higher than 45 to 50 cm H2O, and two thirds of them were voiding with pressures of 40 cm H2O or less. Definitely, most of them clearly were nonobstructed, as we all agree that voiding pressures up to 40 cm H2O are acceptable, and if the retropubic suspension improves the outlet resistance, then that is expected. That is also true in their patients with failure who did not show any change in voiding pressure. This is not uncommon in our preoperative evaluation: patients, especially those with a severe degree of urinary incontinence, would void with no rise in intravesical pressure yet with an adequate flow rate. Those patients postoperatively are definitely going to void with some rise in intravesical pressure if they were cured, and that is the outcome of improving outlet resistance.

SUBCLINICAL CHANGES IN BLADDER FUNCTION IN CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH NONUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF THE TETHERED CORD SYNDROME

Purpose We evaluated the urodynamic findings in myelodysplastic children with the tethered cord syndrome without urological symptoms to determine if occult bladder changes occur or if routine preoperative urodynamic evaluation is not indicated for this select population. Materials and Methods Preoperative and postoperative urodynamic studies were performed on children with myelodysplasia and the tethered cord syndrome between 1988 and 1994. Inclusion criteria were neurological or musculoskeletal surgical indications only, without urological status changes, radiographic confirmation of the tethered cord syndrome, and water cystometry performed preoperatively within 1 week and again postoperatively within 6 months. The parameters of interest included total bladder capacity and pressure, leak point pressure, compliance, uninhibited contractions, electromyelogram activity and sensation. Results A total of 20 children, 11 girls and 9 boys, 2.3 to 17.3 years old were included in the study. Worsening scoliosis and lower extremity weakness were the most common presentations. Urodynamic studies were conducted 1.8 days preoperatively (mean) and 104.3 days postoperatively (mean). Results were analyzed with regard to improvement or deterioration between preoperative and postoperative urodynamic studies. Of the 20 children 15 (75%) demonstrated improvement between the 2 urodynamic studies, including 10 who improved in 1 parameter (most often with resolution of uninhibited contractions), 3 in 2, 1 in 3 and 1 in 4. There were no significant postoperative changes for any of the specific parameters. Urodynamic studies identified 7 children with preoperative leak point pressures above 40 cm. water, of whom only 2 had decreased pressures below 40 cm. water, 2 had postoperative deterioration of compliance and 1 had preoperative detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Conclusions Routine preoperative and postoperative urodynamic evaluations in children with the tethered cord syndrome without clinical changes to urological status may be important. The majority of clinically asymptomatic children will demonstrate preoperative urodynamic findings that improve postoperatively, which serves as another marker of progress after spinal cord untethering. Moreover, some asymptomatic children will demonstrate changes to the urinary tract that merit management changes, such as detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, elevated bladder storage pressures and poor compliance, which may have otherwise been delayed in recognition.

Suburethral duplication of the vaginal wall — An original operation for urinary stress incontinence in women

The ideal surgery for urinary stress incontinence should be represented by operations producing increases in urethral closure pressure only when the intra-abdominal pressure is elevated. Guided by this principle the author proposes an original vaginal operation creating a suburethral duplication of the anterior vaginal wall, together with Halban's fascia, located under the proximal urethra just below the bladder neck. Over this supportive duplication the urethra is compressed during its dorsocaudal physiologic displacements. The technical details and indications of the procedure are fully described. In the period from 1974 to 1991, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, 481 operations were performed. In this series, 74 patients had pre- and postoperative urodynamic evaluations. At 2 years 93.3% were continent without demonstrable obstruction. The simple technique and the use of autologous tissue, together with the lack of major complications and low recurrence rate, are the best advocates for the surgical procedure.

The Neurosurgical Implications of Continuous Neurourological Surveillance of Children with Myelodysplasia

Between 1979 and 1990, 148 newborns with myelodysplasia were followed with serial urodynamic studies and neurological assessment. Of the patients 59 (40%) exhibited changes in neurological status by age 5 years, of whom 28 (19%) showed signs of deterioration. Most changes occurred before age 2 years. A total of 22 children underwent repeat neurosurgical exploration because of a change in urethral sphincter innervation (17), deterioration of function of the lower extremities (3), or changes on computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (2). Postoperative urodynamic evaluation demonstrated improvement in 11 children, stabilization in 9 and further deterioration in 2. The earlier that a change was detected and secondary surgery was performed, the better the outcome. These findings indicate that the neurological lesion in myelodysplasia is a dynamic disease process requiring continuous neurological, orthopedic and urodynamic surveillance. Early identification and prompt neurosurgical reexploration seem to arrest and even reverse the neurological deterioration that takes place in a substantial number of these children.