Pediatric urodynamics: baseline audit and effect on management

To undertake a baseline audit of our pediatric urodynamic service, identifying areas for improvement, and to determine whether clinical management was affected by urodynamic results.

All pediatric urodynamic studies during one calendar year were reviewed to determine the quality of reports that were issued and to assess any problems encountered. A postal questionnaire was sent to all referring doctors to determine whether the urodynamic report had influenced management.

In all, 48 children attended for videocystometry, with successful tests in 39 (81%); 97% of written reports were judged to contain adequate information. In all, 33 postal questionnaires were returned (85%); in 30 (91%) the referring clinician felt that the urodynamic result had directly influenced management.

The audit highlighted areas for improvement, which have been addressed. The response from the postal questionnaire showed that urodynamics directly influenced the management of children with complex urological and neurological abnormalities.