Dr Farag is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. In addition to providing the highest level of care to expectant mothers in both public and private hospitals, he has vast experience in pelvic surgery, including laparoscopic surgery, pelvic floor re-construction and urinary incontinence procedures.
Several muscles, organs and nerves are involved in collecting, storing and releasing urine. The kidneys form urine by filtering waste and extra water from the blood stream. The ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder, a hollow muscled organ shaped like a balloon, sits in the pelvis and is held in place by ligaments attached to other organs and the pelvic bones.
The bladder stores urine until you are ready to empty it. It swells into a round shape when it is full and gets small as it empties. A healthy bladder can hold up to 2 cups of water comfortably.
Problems with the bladder can be caused by difficult vaginal deliveries, ageing, illness or injury to the muscles of the sphincter and pelvis. Urinary incontinence is when the sphincter muscle cannot remain tight enough to hold urine in the bladder, or the bladder does not have enough support from the pelvic muscles to stay in proper position.
What is urodynamics?
Urodynamic assessment is a highly specialised and sophisticated method of making scientifically accurate diagnosis of your symptoms such as:
- Urinary Incontinence
- Frequent Urination
- Sudden, strong urges to urinate
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
What does the procedure involve?
Urodynamics is performed using computerised equipment and ultrasound imaging. The patient asked to complete a special bladder diary prior to urodynamic assessment. The patient is instructed to attend with a completely full bladder and our specialised nurse re-explains the procedure in detail. The patient then voids in private, into a toilet attached to a urodynamic computer. Initial flow rate and voided volume are recorded. Residual urine volume is measured.
Two small tubes are inserted through the normal passage to the bladder and a small balloon type catheter is placed in the rectum (back passage). Bladder and urethral pressures are calculated. Results are then tabulated and urodynamics diagnosis is made and then specific treatment can be implemented.
After the test…
You may have mild discomfort for a few hours, so we advise you to increase your fluid intake after the test. (2-3 litres of fluid per day).
You should avoid drinking more than 2 or 3 standard measures of tea, coffee or cola, as these contain caffeine and may cause bladder irritation.
What are the risks of the test?
There is a small risk of urinary infection and some patients need an antibiotic, otherwise the test is safe.
Do I take my usual medications prior to taking the test?
We advise patients to stop taking any medication you take to control your bladder, one week before the test.