ICS-SUFU standard: Theory, terms, and recommendations for pressure-flow studies performance, analysis, and reporting. Part 2: Analysis of PFS, reporting, and diagnosis

Is detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity limited to the elderly?

OBJECTIVE

Detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity (DO-DU) is classically described in frail institutionalized elderly patients, but we have also observed this diagnosis in younger populations. This research aims to identify the differences between two age groups of DO-DU patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included DO-DU patients from a single center from 2012 to 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the "Younger" group (aged less than 70 years) and the "Older" group (aged 70 years or older). We separately compared demographics, the number of risk factors considered to affect bladder function, clinical presentations, and urodynamic findings between these two groups in each gender.

RESULTS

There were 210 patients included in the analysis, with 50.48% in the younger group and 49.52% in the older group. The median ages of males and females in the younger group were 57 and 62 years, whereas the median ages of males and females in the older group were 76.5 and 76 years. Multiple sclerosis exhibited statistically significant prevalence in the younger patients (7.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.03 in males and 19.9% vs. 4.6% in females). While diabetes mellitus (DM) was more prevalent in the older males (20.0% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.01), transabdominal hysterectomy was more common in the younger females (46.3% vs. 25%, p = 0.04). 69.8% of the younger group and 71.2% of the older group have at least one risk factor that impact their bladder function. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups across various risk factor categories. The older males reported a higher incidence of urgency (78.3% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.02) and urge incontinence (61.7% vs. 32.3%, p < 0.01), while the younger females reported a higher incidence of straining during voiding on history (46.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.01). The younger males exhibited a greater volume of strong desire to void (385 vs. 300 mL, p = 0.01), maximal cystometric capacity (410 vs. 300 mL, p < 0.01), and a lower highest detrusor overactivity (DO) pressure (37 vs. 50.5 cmH2O, p = 0.02). The younger group had a higher postvoid residual (170 vs. 85 mL in males, p < 0.01 and 180 vs. 120 mL in females, p = 0.02). The voiding efficiency was lower in younger females (40% vs. 60%, p = 0.02). In both ages, the ICS detrusor contraction index and projected isovolumetric pressure 1 were similar. However, without considering risk factors, the older males had the highest DO pressure (57 vs. 29 cmH2O, p < 0.01), and the younger males had a higher voiding pressure (PdetQmax) than the older males (28 vs. 20 cmH2O, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

DO-DU is not exclusive to elderly patients. It can also be diagnosed in individuals with risk factors regardless of age; therefore, clinicians need a high degree of suspicion, especially in patients who have risk factor(s) for DO and DU. A notable clinical differentiation is that older males diagnosed with DO-DU have a higher incidence of urgency and urge urinary incontinence, while younger females have a higher incidence of straining.

How do we make progress in phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract such as overactive bladder and underactive detrusor, including using urine markers and microbiome data, to personalize therapy? ICI-RS 2023-Part 2

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) and underactive bladder (UAB) could be associated with metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, changes in urinary microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this Think Tank was to provide a guide on how to investigate OAB and/or detrusor underactivity (DU) patients to better clarify the underlying pathophysiology and possibly personalize the treatment.

METHODS

A compendium of discussion based on the current evidence related to phenotyping patients with OAB or DU using urodynamic tests, functional neuro-imaging, urinary markers, and microbiome.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The article emphasizes the critical significance of adopting a comprehensive yet tailored approach to phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, such as OAB and UAB. The intricate interplay between the LUT and various factors, metabolic, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal can define unique LUT profiles, enabling personalized therapies to replace the one-size-fits-all approach.

Could a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiologies lead to more informed treatment choices in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction due to an acontractile or underactive detrusor? ICI-RS 2023

INTRODUCTION

The underlying pathophysiology behind a diagnosis of acontractile or underactive detrusor at invasive urodynamics is very heterogeneous. Lack of etiological classification currently limits the possibility of stratifying therapy.

METHODS

This subject was discussed at a think-tank on the subject at the International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society held in Bristol, June 2023. This manuscript is a result of those deliberations and the subsequent discussions of the think-tank.

RESULTS

There are challenges in defining abnormalities of detrusor contraction with resultant implications for available evidence. Pathology at any level of the neuromuscular pathway can impair or prevent a detrusor voiding contraction. Attempts have been made to identify clinical markers that might predict an underactive detrusor but strong supporting evidence is lacking. Hence, a holistic approach to phenotyping requires specialized neuro-imaging as well as physiological investigations. Several general measures can help individuals with an abnormal detrusor contraction. The search for a molecule to enhance the detrusor voiding contraction remains elusive but there are promising new candidates. Neuromodulation can help select individuals but data is not well stratified by underlying etiology. Manipulation of central neurotransmitters might offer an alternate therapeutic option.

CONCLUSIONS

A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiologies behind an abnormality of the detrusor voiding contraction is needed for improving management. Towards this goal, the think-tank proposes a classification of the underactive detrusor that might help in selecting and reporting more well-defined patient cohorts.

Ultrasound Urodynamics: A Review of Ultrasound Imaging Techniques for Enhanced Bladder Functional Diagnostics

Purpose of Review

Invasive urodynamics are currently used to diagnose disorders of bladder function. However, due to patient discomfort as well as artifacts induced by catheters and non-physiologic filling, less invasive screening tools that can improve diagnostic information, such as ultrasound are required. The purpose of this review is to assess different modalities of ultrasound as applied to functional bladder imaging. This information will help guide future studies in the use of ultrasound during urodynamics.

Recent Findings

Recently, multiple studies have employed ultrasound to evaluate bladder volume, wall thickness, shape, vibrometry, elastography, compliance, biomechanics, and micromotion during urodynamics. These new techniques have used both 2D and 3D ultrasound techniques to evaluate bladder changes during filling. Continued research is needed to confirm ongoing findings prior to widespread incorporation into clinical practice.

Summary

This review demonstrates the potential use of ultrasound as an adjunct to urodynamics for the diagnostic evaluation of functional bladder disorders.

The Use of Uroflowmetry as a Diagnostic Test

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Uroflowmetry is widely used for initial non-invasive evaluation of lower urinary tract disorders. Current clinical use is mostly restricted to a scrutiny of the maximum flow rate and uroflow pattern recorded by a conventional flowmeter in a health care facility. There are several advancements in our understanding and in available technologies that promise to transform clinical utilization of this simple test.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several aspects of the uroflow test in addition to maximum flow rate and uroflow pattern show potential diagnostic utility. This includes flow acceleration, uroflow indices, uroflow-electromyography including lag time, stop uroflow test, and uroflow-based nomograms. There are initial attempts to use artificial intelligence in analysis. There is also new data with regard to factors influencing variability of uroflow testing that might influence the diagnostic value in as yet uncertain ways including diurnal variability, postural variability, locational variability, and operator variability. There are new technologies for uroflow testing in a home environment allowing for easy repetition. However, there are several challenges owing to a paucity of clinical data and standardization. There are also critical lacunae in terminology that need to be addressed. There are exciting new advancements in the field of uroflowmetry. However, there is need to standardize and validate the newer uroflow tracing analyses and technologies.

Effect of lower urinary tract conditions on surgical outcomes of different suburethral sling procedures for female stress urinary incontinence

PURPOSE

The suburethral sling procedure has been widely used as the first-line treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This study retrospectively compared the long-term surgical outcomes and complications between retropubic and transobturator suburethral sling procedures.

METHODS

From 2010 to 2022, a total of 533 women with SUI underwent retropubic pubovaginal sling (PVS) or transobturator tape (TOT) procedures using a synthetic polypropylene mesh with or without concomitant anterior colporrhaphy. All patients underwent preoperative videourodynamic studies, Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP), and voiding efficiency (VE). The success rate, postoperative complications, overactive bladder symptoms, transvaginal urethrolysis, and repeat procedures were compared among different surgical procedures.

RESULTS

Among the patients, PVS was performed in 251 (47.1%) patients and with colporrhaphy in 58 (10.9%), TOT in 174 (32.6%) and with colporrhaphy in 50 (9.4%). The success rate was 87.4% in the PVS group and 75.4% in the TOT group, with or without colporrhaphy (p = 0.001). Urethrolysis was performed in 4.7% of the patients, and repeat suburethral sling procedures were performed in 8.3%. The overall success rate was significantly lower in TOT group, either with high or low VLPP, or with high or low VE. The rate of persistent OAB was significantly higher in TOT group regardless of VLPP or VE, whereas patients with VE < 90% at baseline had a significantly higher rate of postoperative dysuria.

CONCLUSION

TOT procedures had an inferior long-term success rate than PVS procedures for female SUI. Additionally, no differences in the success rate were observed between patients with different bladder functions, high or low VLPP, and high or low VE.

Novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to predict the presence of urodynamic detrusor underactivity in men

AIMS

To investigate the usefulness of novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to diagnose urodynamic detrusor underactivity (DU) in men.

METHODS

We developed clinical diagnostic criteria to predict the presence of urodynamic DU in men as follows: (a) bladder voiding efficiency <70% on uroflowmetry, (b) existence of "sawtooth and interrupted waveforms" on uroflowmetry, and (c) ultrasonography-documented intravesical prostatic protrusion <10 mm. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of these clinical criteria for diagnosing urodynamic DU in men aged 50 years or above with lower urinary tract symptoms who underwent urodynamic studies.

RESULTS

Of the 314 men analyzed (mean age, 72.4 years; mean detrusor contraction index [DCI], 98.8; and mean bladder outlet obstruction index [BOOI], 43.9), 89 men met this clinical DU diagnostic criteria. Of these, 79 men (88.8%) had urodynamic DU (DCI < 100 and BOOI < 40), nine (10.1%) had DU + BOO (DCI < 100 and BOOI ≥ 40), and one (1.1%) had normal voiding functions. None of the men with urodynamic BOO (DCI ≥ 100 and BOOI ≥ 40) met the clinical DU diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of these clinical diagnostic criteria for urodynamic DU were 69.3%, 95.0%, 88.8%, and 84.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The proposed clinical DU diagnostic criteria showed a high PPV (88.8%) for diagnosing urodynamic DU. None of the patients with BOO met the clinical diagnostic criteria for DU. These clinical DU diagnostic criteria may be useful in identifying men with urodynamic DU in clinical practice.