Urodynamic Test
Unveiling Insights into
Urinary Health
With Urodynamics Test
Urodynamics test is a series of
test often performed to determine the overall health and functioning of the
lower urinary tract functions. Urodynamics tests helps in assessing and
determining irregularities and abnormalities in the functioning of urinary
tract and enables diagnosis of problems associated with urinary bladder. This
test is an essential tool in diagnosis and understanding of urinary tract
issues and diseases and helps medical professionals provide tailored treatment
to patients. It is often used to diagnose and evaluate conditions such as
urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, urinary retention, and other urethral
dysfunction.
Overview of the Key Aspects of Urodynamics Test
Types of Urodynamics Test:
There are several types of
urodynamics tests performed depending on the symptoms and conditions. These
tests include, Cystometrogram (CMG) - which measures how much urine the bladder
can hold; Pressure Flow Study - which assesses the pressure in the bladder as
it empties along with urinary flow; Urethral Pressure Profile - which measure
the pressure along the length of urethra; Electromyography (EMG) - which
measures electric activity of the muscles of bladder and pelvic floor; and
Videourodynamic Study - which combines urodynamic measurements with real-time
X-ray imaging.
Procedure:
Patient may be advised to refrain
from drinking caffeinated beverages and taking certain medications before the
test.
Patients may be advised to come
to the testing with a full bladder.
They will be then asked to urinate
in a private room and then the bladder will be filled with sterile water using
a catheter.
Sensors will be then placed in
the bladder and rectum and electrodes will be placed on the skin which will
then measure and monitor pressure and muscle activity.
With a full bladder, patients may
be asked to perform certain exercises such as laughing or coughing which will
help in determining bladder’s ability to store urine.
Patients may be asked to empty
their full bladder with the machine monitoring flow rate, pressure, and muscle
activity during urination.
The data then collected is
analysed to understand the bladder’s capacity, pressure, and muscle control.
These interpretations can be
useful in diagnosis of conditions such as urinary incontinence, overactive
bladder, urethral obstructions, or weakness in the pelvic muscles.
The test usually takes 30 minutes
to one hour depending on the reason for the test.
Benefits:
●
Relatively painless and quick
●
Provides accurate data of urinary system’s functioning
●
Helps in tailoring medical interventions such as
behavioural strategies, pelvic floor exercises, medications, or surgical
procedures
●
Guides healthcare professionals in making informed
decisions to enable timely medical intervention for complex conditions
●
Can be used as a tool to monitor the effectiveness of
ongoing medical treatment
Patients must inform their
healthcare providers of the complete medical history such as allergies, use of
over-the-counter medication, or any surgical process done before. If the
patient is pregnant or might be pregnant, the patient must inform the
healthcare provider as some aspects of this testing may need to be changed or
postponed. If the patient has urinary tract infection (UTI) or any active
infections, the healthcare provider might need to treat the infection before
imaging as it can interfere with the results. In case of the patient undergoing
a pelvic surgery recently, the healthcare provider must be informed as the
procedure might need to postpone until the patient has completely healed.
