Urinary incontinence after stroke

Abstract

‘Urinary incontinence after stroke’ explores the problem of urinary incontinence. It describes the different types of urinary incontinence with a focus on the types of incontinence prevalent after a stroke; the impact of this symptom complex on the psychological state of the patient, mortality, dependency, and institutionalization; the age related changes in the urinary tract; the epidemiology of post-stroke urinary incontinence, risk factors predisposing to it, assessment methods (including bedside assessments), management with identification of transient causes of incontinence, behavioural strategies, pharmacological therapy, treatment of comorbid conditions, and management in special situations. Urge incontinence, stress incontinence, incomplete emptying, functional incontinence, overflow incontinence, and lower urinary tract symptoms, are all discussed in the context of the pathophysiology and management of these conditions.