Urodynamic assessment of lower urinary tract function for women with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. ICS Educational Module

Aims:

To present the body of evidence about the practice of objective assessment of lower urinary tract (LUT) function and dysfunction of female patients with stress urinary incontinence symptoms It serves as a scientific background review and evidence base for a presentation made available on the International Continence Society (ICS) website.

Methods:

This narrative review has been prepared by a working group instituted by the ICS Urodynamics Committee. The method to develop the educational module used included narrative literature review, consensus formation by the members of the Working Group, and review by members of the ICS Urodynamics Committee core panel.

Results:

On the basis of the available guidelines and articles, we addressed the following topics: Indications for comprehensive urodynamic study (UDS); the best way to inform and prepare the patient; the urodynamic study protocol in women with SUI; the practice of the different tests (cystometry with pressure flow study, leak point pressure and urethral pressure profile).

Conclusions:

This ICS teaching module includes an expert-based profile of patients with signs and symptoms of SUI that can be considered complicated and includes specific recommendations for the practice of testing. UDS helps diagnosing the dysfunction that leads to the symptoms. Most of the testing for women with stress urinary incontinence can be performed in the already standardized manner; some adaptions of practice and evaluation are mentioned.