Half-Day Urotherapy Improves Voiding Parameters in Children with Dysfunctional Emptying

Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Network: Improving the Management of Pediatric Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction

Lower urinary tract symptoms with constipation characterize bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD). Due to high referral volumes to hospital pediatric urology clinics and time-consuming appointments, wait times are prolonged. Initial management consists of behavioral modification strategies that could be accomplished by community pediatricians. We aimed to create a network of community pediatricians trained in BBD (BBDN) management and assess its impact on care.

METHODS

We distributed a survey to pediatricians, and those interested attended training consisting of lectures and clinical shadowing. Patients referred to a hospital pediatric urology clinic were triaged to the BBDN and completed the dysfunctional voiding symptom score and satisfaction surveys at baseline and follow-up. The Bristol stool chart was used to assess constipation. Results were compared between BBDN and hospital clinic patients.

RESULTS

Surveyed pediatricians (n = 100) most commonly managed BBD with PEG3350 and dietary changes and were less likely to recommend bladder retraining strategies. Baseline characteristics were similar in BBDN (n = 100) and hospital clinic patients (n = 23). Both groups had similar improvements in dysfunctional voiding symptom score from baseline to follow-up (10.1 ± 4.2 to 5.6 ± 3.3, P = 0.01, versus 10.1 ± 4.2 to 7.8 ± 4.5, P = 0.02). BBDN patients waited less time for their follow-up visit with 56 (28-70) days versus 94.5 (85-109) days for hospital clinic patients (P < 0.001). Both groups demonstrated high familial satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Community pediatricians may require more knowledge of management strategies for BBD. Our pilot study demonstrates that implementing a BBDN is feasible, results in shorter wait times, and similar improvement in symptoms and patient satisfaction than a hospital pediatric urology clinic.

The long-term added value of voiding school for children with refractory non-neurogenic overactive bladder: an inpatient bladder rehabilitation program

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

Despite adequate management, 20% of children with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome fail to improve their bladder function. To approach the need for alternative strategies, an inpatient bladder rehabilitation 'voiding school' program was established.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term (1-year follow-up) outcome of this voiding school program in children with refractory OAB. In addition, the authors aimed to identify which children achieved the best outcomes with this voiding school program.

STUDY DESIGN

The charts of all children (n = 357, mean age: 9.7 ± 2.0 years, 63.6% boys) with refractory OAB who attended voiding school between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed. A linear mixed model with random intercept was used to evaluate the incontinence (expressed by enuresis and daytime incontinence voiding scores) and maximal voiding volume (MVV).

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

This study demonstrated an overall beneficial long-term effect of the inpatient program on day- and night-time incontinence, in which 36.6% of children achieved dryness during day- and night-time. In addition, the mean overall decline in the number of wet nights and days declined with 4 extra dry days and/or nights per week, in comparison with the level of continence before attending the voiding school program. In contrast, only a temporary increase in MVV was seen, however, without relapse incontinence. At last, the authors identified the negative impact of decreasing age, male sex, dysfunctional voiding and nocturnal polyuria on the overall outcome of the inpatient program.

CONCLUSION

An inpatient rehabilitation 'voiding school' program is a successful and safe treatment modality for children with refractory OAB that results in long-term significant increase of continence, as well as amelioration in degree of severity. The worst outcomes of this voiding school program were detected in children with young age, who were boys, or had associated nocturnal polyuria, dysfunctional voiding, and/or faecal incontinence.

Traditional Biofeedback vs. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy-Is One Clearly Superior?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a worldwide accepted therapy that has been exclusively used to manage many pelvic floor disorders in adults and children. The aim of this review is to suggest to clinicians an updated understanding of this therapeutic approach in management of children with non-neuropathic voiding dysfunction.

RECENT FINDINGS

Today, pelvic floor muscle training through biofeedback is widely used as a part of a voiding retraining program aiming to help children with voiding dysfunction which is caused by pelvic floor overactivity. Biofeedback on its own, without a pelvic floor training component, is not an effective treatment. Biofeedback is an adjunct to the pelvic floor training. In the current review, we develop the role of pelvic floor physical therapy in management of children with non-neuropathic voiding dysfunction and compare it with biofeedback therapy alone.

The impact of a bladder training video versus standard urotherapy on quality of life of children with bladder and bowel dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) can negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of children. Urotherapy is an accepted treatment option for BBD; however, literature that examines the impact of management options on QoL in this population is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a bladder training video (BTV) is non-inferior to standard urotherapy (SU) in improving QoL in children with BBD.

METHODS

Children aged 5-10 years and who scored ≥11 on the Vancouver Non-Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome Questionnaire (NLUTD/DES) were recruited from a pediatric tertiary care center. Children were excluded with known vesicoureteral reflux; spinal dysraphism; learning disabilities; recent urotherapy; and primary nocturnal enuresis. Quality of life was evaluated using the Pediatric Incontinence Quality-of-Life questionnaire (PinQ). Questionnaires were administered at the baseline and 3-month follow-up clinic visits. Following centralized electronic blocked randomization schemes to guarantee allocation concealment, patients were assigned to receive SU or BTV during their regular clinic visits. An intention-to-treat protocol was followed. Between-group baseline and follow-up QoL scores were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests, and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 539 BBD patients who were screened, 173 (32%) were eligible, and 150 (87%) were randomized. Of these, 143 (96%) completed the study, five (3%) were lost to follow-up, and two (1%) withdrew. In total, 140/143 (97%) completed the QoL questionnaire at baseline and follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 3.5 ± 1.1 months for BTV patients and 3.7 ± 1.6 months for SU. At baseline, BTV and SU patients had a mean QoL score of 26.6 ± 13 and 23.8 ± 12, respectively (P = 0.17). Between-group mean change in PinQ scores from baseline was not statistically significant (BTV: 6.25 ± 12.5 vs SU: 3.75 ± 12.2; P = 0.23; Summary Fig.). Significant predictors of positive change in QoL were: higher symptomatology score, with a correlation coefficient of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.2-0.9; P = 0.003), and worse baseline QoL score, with a correlation coefficient of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.4-0.7; P < 0.001). Overall, most patients had improved symptomatology and QoL scores.

CONCLUSION

Significant and similar QoL changes from baseline to follow-up were observed in both the BTV and SU groups, suggesting that BTV was non-inferior to SU in improving QoL in children with BBD. Quality of life assessment should be considered when evaluating interventions for BBD, as it appears to be an important clinical outcome with which to determine urotherapy success.

Bladder Training Video versus Standard Urotherapy for Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: A Noninferiority Randomized, Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

We evaluated whether an animated bladder training video was as effective as standard individual urotherapy in improving bladder/bowel symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients 5 to 10 years old who scored greater than 11 on the bladder/bowel Vancouver questionnaire were included in a noninferiority randomized, controlled trial. Children with vesicoureteral reflux, neuropathic bladder, learning disabilities, recent urotherapy or primary nocturnal enuresis were excluded from analysis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard urotherapy or watch a bladder training video in clinic using centralized blocked randomization schemes. Bladder/bowel symptoms were evaluated at baseline and 3-month followup by intent to treat analysis. A sample size of 150 patients ensured a 3.5 difference in mean symptomology scores between the groups, which was accepted as the noninferiority margin.

RESULTS

Of 539 screened patients 173 (37%) were eligible for study and 150 enrolled. A total of 143 patients (95%) completed the trial, 5 (4%) were lost to followup and 2 (1%) withdrew. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Baseline mean ± SD symptomology scores were 19.9 ± 5.5 for the bladder training video and 19.7 ± 6.0 for standard urotherapy. At 3 months the mean symptomology scores for the bladder training video and standard urotherapy were reduced to 14.4 ± 6.5 and 13.8 ± 6.0, respectively (p = 0.54). The mean difference was 0.6 (95% CI -1.4-2.6). The upper 95% CI limit of 2.6 did not exceed the preset 3.5 noninferiority margin.

CONCLUSIONS

The bladder training video was not inferior to standard urotherapy in reducing bladder/bowel symptoms in children 5 to 10 years old. The video allows families to have free access to independently review bladder training concepts as often as necessary.

[Psychosomatic primary care for urinary incontinence]

Urinary incontinence is a significant impairment of the quality of life. Many patients are treated insufficiently or even suffer from complications of incontinence surgery. Psychosomatic primary care serves to improve the diagnostic work-up and helps to select the appropriate therapeutic option. It also optimizes the treatment outcome by supplementing the somatically oriented urological therapy with the psychosomatically aligned extended medical dialogue and body-oriented methods. Psychosomatic primary care is based on the biopsychosocial model and uses theoretical knowledge and practical techniques that can be learnt under professional guidance.

A pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of group vs individual urotherapy in decreasing symptoms associated with bladder-bowel dysfunction

PURPOSE

We determined the feasibility of a definitive trial comparing the effectiveness of group vs individual urotherapy for children with bladder-bowel dysfunction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Children 6 to 10 years old with bladder-bowel dysfunction were recruited during the course of 1 year. Feasibility data on screening, eligibility, recruitment and protocol compliance rates were collected. Patients with high grade hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux or learning disabilities and those who had previously undergone urotherapy were excluded. Patients were randomized to 1-hour group urotherapy or 15-minute individual urotherapy. Symptoms and quality of life were measured using the Vancouver Nonneurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome Questionnaire and the Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire at baseline and at 3 to 6 months of followup. Within/between group comparisons were conducted using t-tests.

RESULTS

Of 455 screened children 79 were eligible and 60 were recruited to participate. A total of 24 patients randomized to group urotherapy and 25 randomized to individual urotherapy completed the pilot trial (6 undergoing group and 5 undergoing individual urotherapy withdrew from the study). Symptomology scores between group and individual urotherapy were not different at followup (mean ± SD 14.7 ± 7.9 vs 13.4 ± 6.3, p = 0.54, 95% CI -5.4-2.8). Quality of life scores between patients undergoing group and individual urotherapy at baseline differed (mean ± SD 21.1 ± 10.8 vs 31.0 ± 14.3, p < 0.01, 95% CI 2.7-7.3) but became similar at followup (21.0 ± 14.2 vs 20.1 ± 15.3, p = 0.84, 95% CI -9.4-7.6). Within group analyses demonstrated improvement in symptomology from baseline to followup in patients undergoing group (mean ± SD 3.6 ± 7.6, p = 0.03, 95% CI 0.4-6.8) and individual urotherapy (6.0 ± 5.4, p < 0.01, 95% CI 3.8-8.3). Within group quality of life analyses revealed improvement in Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire scores from baseline to followup in patients undergoing individual urotherapy (p < 0.01, 95% CI 5.0-16.9) only.

CONCLUSIONS

Urotherapy, regardless of modality, effectively improved bladder-bowel dysfunction symptoms. A definitive randomized controlled trial is feasible, considering that a high recruitment rate (76%) for this population has been established.

Nocturnal enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is increasingly seen as part of a heterogeneous phenomenon that at times will include daytime lower urinary tract symptoms such as urgency, frequency and wetting - with reduced bladder storage, usually due to an overactive bladder. In turn, these may be associated with constipation and/or faecal soiling. This paper discusses these considerations in the management of NE.

Correlation between uroflowmetry parameters and treatment outcome in children with dysfunctional voiding

PURPOSE

To investigate the correlation between subjective (clinical) treatment outcome and objective uroflowmetry parameters and curve pattern in children with dysfunctional voiding.

METHOD

Seventy-five children were randomly allocated to two urotherapy programs. Group A was submitted to standard urotherapy and pelvic floor exercises while group B received conservative treatment. Constipation and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) were treated in both groups. Selected children from both groups received pharmacotherapy (anticholinergics or desmopressin). Uroflowmetry with electromyography of the pelvic floor and ultrasound post-void residual (PVR) urine volumes were obtained before and at the end of the 12-month treatment period. Uroflowmetry findings were stratified into two categories based on clinical treatment outcome: 'cured' and 'unchanged'. Uroflowmetry findings were compared between categories at the beginning and the end of the investigation.

RESULTS

Voided volume, average and peak flow rates were significantly increased while PVR urine was decreased in children with cured urinary incontinence and nocturnal enuresis compared with 'unchanged' category. Significant decrease of PVR urine was noted in children with cured UTIs. The frequency of a bell-shaped curve was significantly higher compared to other curve patterns in children with cured urinary incontinence and UTIs.

CONCLUSION

Post-treatment improvement in clinical symptoms correlated with improvement in uroflowmetry parameters and curve pattern. Correction of voiding phase is necessary for urinary continence achievement and resolution of UTIs.

Animated biofeedback yields more rapid results than nonanimated biofeedback in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding in girls

PURPOSE

Biofeedback is known to effect symptomatic and objective cure in children with dysfunctional voiding. While some authors advocate animation assisted biofeedback to achieve success, we previously demonstrated similar success without animation. We recently used animated biofeedback aimed at simplifying muscle isolation and encouraging patient interest. We compared the efficacy of biofeedback with and without animation in treating dysfunctional voiding, and its concomitant urinary symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared our experience with the last 60 cases of biofeedback using electromyography tracing alone (nonanimated) with our first 60 cases using the Urostym Pediflow program (animated). All 120 girls presented with urinary complaints and exhibited dysfunctional voiding on electromyography uroflow. Post-void residual measurements were made by ultrasound. We compared the 2 groups with respect to time to resolution of symptoms and dysfunctional voiding, and improvement in post-void residual volume after treatment.

RESULTS

The nonanimated and animated groups were comprised of girls of similar ages (7.3 years vs 6.9 years). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding symptom relief at a mean of 5.4 months after therapy, including daytime incontinence, nocturnal enuresis, urgency, frequency and hoarding. Three patients in each group experienced urinary tract infection following treatment, compared to 42 and 41 before treatment in the nonanimated and animated groups, respectively. Dysfunctional voiding resolved in 95% of patients in both groups. Post-void residual reduction was similar, namely from 35% to 9% of pre-void volume in the nonanimated group, and from 28% to 8% in the animated group. Children in the animated biofeedback group achieved success in significantly fewer sessions (3.6) than those undergoing nonanimated biofeedback (7.6, t test p <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite our proved experience with nonanimated biofeedback systems and our inexperience with an animated system, animated biofeedback systems yielded similar results in a significantly shorter time. Animated and nonanimated biofeedback is efficacious in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding and its symptoms.