[Clinical application of the ice water test in evaluation of neurogenic bladder dysfunction]

Ice water test (IWT) and cystometrography (CMG) were performed on 51 in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the IWT in detecting detrusor reflex. A three-step grading system as established by Balmaseda et al was applied to determine the presence of detrusor activity on IWT. The test was considered 3+ when the catheter was expelled from the bladder within one minute following instillation of 90 mL of ice water; a 2+ test indicated voiding around the catheter after instillation of 90 mL of ice water; and a 1+ IWT was defined as voiding around the catheter or expelling the catheter after instilling another 210 mL of ice water into the bladder. The results showed that the sensitivity of IWT in detecting the presence of detrusor reflex in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction was 96% and the specificity was 79%. Among the four patients having false positive IWT, three of them were diagnosed with poor-compliance bladders. One patient with false negative IWT was found to have severe detrusor-sphincter dyssynergy. There was a significant difference in the strength of detrusor activity among the patients with 3+ IWT, with 2+ IWT, and with 1+ IWT. IWT is a useful technique to predict the existence of detrusor reflex in SCI patients. Its use as a supplement method to cystometrogram could be helpful in the bedside evaluation of patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.