Detrusor hyperreflexia in strokes

Urodynamic evaluation via water cystometry was undertaken in 27 patients from 12 to 120 days after cerebrovascular accidents. Seven patients had urinary symptoms--five with urge incontinence, one with frequency and one with sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. The remaining 20 were asymptomatic. Cystometry revealed normal bladder function in 15 patients (55.6%), detrusor areflexia in one patient (3.7%) and detrusor hyperreflexia in 11 patients (40.7%). Of the 11 patients with detrusor hyperreflexia, six (54.5%) were asymptomatic and the remaining five (45.5%) had urge incontinence. The former group had a statistically significant higher first sensation and functional cystometric capacity than the latter. Urge incontinence was also found to be an accurate predictor of detrusor hyperreflexia.