Urodynamic Testing

Your doctor may recommend urodynamic testing to evaluate the storage of urine in the bladder and the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra, especially if you are having symptoms that suggest problems with the muscles or nerves of your lower urinary system and pelvis (ureters, bladder, urethra, and sphincter muscles). Urodynamic testing may include:

• Uroflowmetry: The patient voids into a special commode chair that measures the rate, volume and time and gives a pattern for review.
• Cystometrogram (CMG): A dual lumen catheter is placed in the patient’s bladder and a catheter is placed in the vagina or rectum, then sterile water is instilled in the bladder. During this time pressures are obtained, including vesical pressure, detrusor pressure and abdominal pressure. During filling, sensations of the bladder are noted.
• Voiding Pressure Study: Immediately after filling the patient’s bladder, he or she is given the opportunity to void, and the previous pressures are measured during voiding.
• Leak Point Pressure: This measures the amount of abdominal pressure that causes a patient to leak urine. During the filling phase, the patient is requested to cough to see if leaking occurs. This may be repeated several times.
• Sphincter Electromyogram (EMG): Electrodes are placed around the anus to record the electrical activity of this area. This test is performed simultaneously with CMG.

Scheduling Urodynamic Testing

Urodynamic studies are performed daily at the 20th Street Professional Building (1115 20th Street). Common reasons for having the tests include any of the different kinds of incontinence, as well as neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury.

Your physician can order the study by providing a written order that includes a clinical reason for performing the test. Please have your physician's office call 304.399.4150. The only preparation for you as a patient is to have a comfortably full bladder upon arrival.