The Reproducibility Of Urodynamic Studies Of Neurogenic Bladders In Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility (test-retest reliability) of urodynamic studies in neurogenic bladders of subjects with spinal cord injuries (SCI).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Urology department of a major rehabilitation center.

Subjects: Fifty individuals with SCI who had urodynamic studies performed from February 2000 to April 2000.

Main outcome measures: Two trials (Time 1 and Time 2) of urodynamic studies done 5 minutes apart, with the following collected: bladder volume at first sensation, maximum cystometric capacity, presence of uninhib ited contractions, opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure, duration of bladder contraction, volume voided, and post-void residual (PVR) volume. The corresponding data were then compared. Statistical analysis was performed using the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient and kappa.

Results: Analysis of the data showed statistically significant levels of agreement between Time 1 and Time 2 with regard to the various corresponding parameters for both the filling and voiding phases. For 3 of the most important parameters-the opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure, and duration of contraction-the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (r_c) was .86 (95% Cl, .78-.95; ρ < .0005), .91 (95% Cl, .86-.96; ρ < .0005), and .97 (95% Cl, .95 -.99, ρ < .0005), respectively.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates good short-term intrasubject reproducibility of urodynamic studies in individuals with SCI.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injury
• Urodynamics
• Reproducibility
• Neurogenic bladder