Role of Urodynamics in the Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence and Prolapse

Abstract

Urodynamics are functional tests of the bladder that are commonly requested for the evaluation of urinary incontinence and prolapse. As a diagnostic test that also can provide prognostic information, urodynamics should be requested when there is a specific question that needs to be answered. This chapter will review the literature that pertains to the common reasons for requesting urodynamics before stress urinary incontinence surgery and review recent randomized trials on urodynamic testing before stress incontinence surgery. In addition, the chapter will compare the predictive ability of urodynamic prolapse reduction stress testing with office-based prolapse reduction stress testing for detecting postoperative stress urinary incontinence in women without symptoms of stress urinary incontinence undergoing prolapse surgery.