[Functional changes during the voiding phase in males with non-neurogenic detrusor underactivity undergoing bladder...

To investigate urodynamic changes during the voiding phase in males with detrusor underactivity (DU) undergoing bladder catheterization for urinary retention.

From a total of 64 patients with urinary retention, a follow-up study was performed in 17 males with a mean age of 77 years. Patients received a urodynamic diagnosis of DU based on a Bladder Contractility Index (BCI) score of < 100 and underwent permanent bladder catheterization (16 cases) or clean intermittent catheterization (1 case) for acute urinary retention (14 cases), or post void residual urine (3 cases). Patients underwent a second urodynamic study after a mean 13 months of follow-up. Fisher's exact test was used with categorical variables and Student's t test with parametric variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05 for a two-sided test.

The second urodynamic study showed a significant increase in maximal detrusor pressure, pressure at maximum flow rate, BCI score, Bladder Outlet Obstruction Index (BOOI) score, and number of patients who urinated during the pressure-flow study.

Bladder catheterization in men with DU significantly improves bladder contractility and revealed obstructions of the lower urinary tract that were masked by insufficient detrusor pressure in relation to the DU of these patients. These findings could have diagnostic as well as prognostic and therapeutic applications.