[Urodynamic and electrophysiologic studies in evaluating congenital neurogenic bladder]

We investigated 50 patients with a congenital neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele (38), sacral agenesis (5) and occult spinal dysraphism (7). There were 25 males and 25 females, aged from 1 month to 29 years (mean age at the time of evaluation was 9.2 years). Pressure-Flow-EMG study was obtained in every instance. In addition, 25 patients underwent electrophysiological testing (sacral reflex arc testing and somatosensory evoked potentials from the pudendal nerve). The patients were then classified according to the urodynamic and electrophysiological results. We allocated the patients into a "functional" classification as recommended by Van Gool. This classification is useful in the selection of proper therapy, and in the definition of the risks of upper tracts deterioration.