[The role of urodynamic study in female patients with urinary incontinence]

To determine the type of urinary incontinence in 96 female incontinent patients, we performed a comparative study between the clinical evaluation and the results of urodynamic studies. Their complaints, physical examination, laboratory examinations including routine urological X-ray and ultrasonic studies, revealed that 15 to 30% of the patients had another type of incontinence than those with stress incontinence, urge incontinence and those in whom diagnosis was made from urodynamic studies. Urodynamic studies disclosed that another urinary incontinence type was observed in 7 to 18% of the patients, who were not improved in spite of treatment which was required because of their complaints and physical examination. Our findings showed that urinary incontinence could not be classified according to the frequency of urination or vesical volume. Urodynamic studies may be essential in female patients with urinary incontinence scheduled to have an operation or for whom initial treatment was unsuccessful.