Page 2 - Urodynamic Assessment

Urodynamic assessment
Preparation
Prior to your urodynamic assessment, you may
be asked to complete a voiding diary, recording
times and amounts of urination. Bring this to your
appointment along with a list of your medications
and their dosage. On the day of your examination
you may eat and drink normally. Take your usual
medication unless directed otherwise. You should
consume enough fluids so that you arrive at your
appointment with a comfortably full bladder.
Urodynamic assessment
When you arrive, a nurse will review your health,
medical history and voiding problem. You will be
asked to disrobe and put on a hospital gown. The
nurse will explain each step of the assessment and
ensure that you remain comfortable. The testing may
take up to one hour.
You may be asked to empty your bladder into a
special toilet containing a device that records the
rate, volume, duration and pattern of urine flow. The
amount of urine remaining in the bladder after voiding
will then be measured by ultrasound or with a thin
hollow tube or catheter inserted through the urethra
(postvoid residual urine volume).
Lying on a special reclining chair or bed, a narrow
catheter will be introduced through the urethra into
the bladder to allow filling and pressure measurement.
A soft balloon may be placed in the rectum to
measure abdominal pressure. Any discomfort related
to catheter insertion can be minimized by remaining
relaxed. Electrode stickers may be attached between
your legs to record activity in the sphincter muscle.
Sterile water is run slowly into the bladder through the
catheter until you feel full, while bladder pressure is
recorded. It is important to lie still so that computer
recordings are accurate. The nurse will ask you to
report urges to void and feelings of bladder fullness.
This publication is produced by
The information in the publication is not intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for direct consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner. The Canadian Urological Association disclaims all liability and legal responsibility howsoever caused, including negligence, for the
information contained in or referenced by this brochure.
© 2014. Canadian Urological Association. All rights reserved.
You may be asked to cough or bear down on a
full bladder to bring on urine leakage and allow
measurement of the pressure at which leakage
occurs. The bladder catheter is then removed after
which you will be asked to void once again in the flow
measuring toilet. A reading may be obtained with a
thin catheter during voiding while measuring urine
flow at the same time. In some cases, x-ray imaging
may be used to visualize the bladder and its outlet
during filling and emptying (video-urodynamics).
The specific tests required for your evaluation may
vary.
After your urodynamic assessment
There are no restrictions on your activity after the
assessment; you may drive and return to work. Mild
burning with urination is common and usually clears
within a day or two. In some, particularly men, the
urine may be stained with blood for a few days. These
symptoms will clear more rapidly if you drink plenty of
fluids. Severe bleeding, ongoing burning pain or fever
and chills should be reported promptly to your doctor.
Follow-up
Your urologist will review the results of your urodynamic
assessment with you. The information obtained will
assist in planning treatment appropriate for your
specific condition.
Your urodynamic assessment has been scheduled for:
___________________________________ (date)
at ____________________________________ (time)
at __________________________________________
___________________________________ (location)
or
You will be contacted with a date and time of
your urodynamic assessment.
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