 Urodynamic FAQ Urodynamics Studies: Why Do You Need Them? The formulation and passage of urine results when your body gets rid of waste products through your kidneys. The kidneys filter and clean the blood. When this takes place urine is formed. Urine flows from the kidney, through the ureters and is stored in the urinary bladder until it is time to empty it. Accompaniment Normally, the bladder fills by stretching the bladder muscle. The nerves present in the muscle send a message to your brain when the bladder needs to be emptied. You then look for the bathroom. Your brain sends a message back to you bladder to wait. When you do locate a bathroom you send a message to the brain that it is all right to urinate. The brain allows your bladder muscle to squeeze down and the sphincter relaxes, allowing urine to pass through the urethra from the bladder. The bladder is thus emptied. How often you urinate depends on the amounts of fluids you drink. Normally, you will urinate every 3 or 4 hours during the day and occasionally at night if you have had large amounts of liquids before bedtime. Why are Urodynamics ordered for you? Urodynamics are tests done on your bladder, urethra, and sphincter to find out how they work. When your doctor suspects a problems with one of these areas, he will decide how to best help you. Problems with urination can be due to several things:
If you take any medication at all, even those bought without prescription, please ask your urologist about which medications you should stop taking before these tests. Some medications, especially cold medications, tranquilizers or "nerve" pills, and drugs for Parkinson’s disease have an effect on the bladder and will cause the test to be inaccurate. These medications should not be taken for 24 hours before the examination. Please ask your medical doctor first before stopping such medications. Medications that affect the bladder, such as Ditropan, Oxybutynin, Tofranil, Imipramine, Levbid, Levsin, and Urised may affect test results and should be stopped 72 hours before urodynamics. Please make sure that you have a recent negative urine culture. We will only perform urodynamics on patients that have negative cultures (no infections). Your personal doctors might have results on this—please have them forward such results to us. There are several test included under the term, urodynamics. They may be done separately or together, depending upon what type of problem you have. After the test, you might see some blood in the urine—do not be alarmed, this is normal. We will give you some antibiotics after the test. Urodynamic Studies Urodynamic tests will be beneficial in diagnosing your condition and determining the best course of treatment for you. The information below will help you understand what will be involved in theses procedures. Uroflowmetry: This procedure involves simply voiding into a special commode that measures the rate of the flow of urine as it leaves the body. You should have a full bladder for this test to be done accurately. Cystometrogram: This procedure is done to test the function the bladder muscles. In order to do this, the technician places a small catheter (rubber tube) in the bladder through the urethra. Once this is done, various conditions are observed and measured, e.g. bladder volume, sensations of the bladder and your control on the bladder. The catheter remains in place for the duration of the study, but is removed upon completion of the test. Another catheter may or may not be placed into the rectum depending on your individual case. Possible risks associated with this procedure are urinary tract infections or bleeding due to the introduction of the catheter. Mild discomfort will persist for a few hours after the test. Electromyography Of The External Urinary Sphincter: This procedure is done to study certain neurological conditions and/or urinary flow problems, it may be necessary to d this procedure for some patients. Two patch electrodes are placed on the muscle that controls the flow of urine (the external sphincter). This electrode is also kept in place for the duration or the study. Please call 516.627.6188, Extension 149 for more information or to make an appointment.  Urology Associates, P.C. 535 Plandome Rd. Manhasset, NY 11030 Tel: 516.627.6188 Fax: 516.627.9397 VIEW MAP » 
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