OBJECTIVETo assess the value of video-urodynamic study (VUD) in the identification of lower urinary tract voiding dysfunction in female.

METHODSA total of 126 female patients with sign and symptoms of lower urinary tract voiding dysfunction underwent VUD from December 2008 to January 2011 in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. The causes of voiding dysfunction were analyzed based on VUD findings.

RESULTSNeurogenic voiding dysfunction was found in 30 patients (23.8%), non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction was found in 96 patients (76.2%). The 72 patients suffered from recurrent urinary tract infection (57.1%) and 23 patients suffered from hydronephrosis (18.3%). Based on special characteristics of video-urodynamic study, a total of 126 patients were classified as: (1) Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) was found in 65 patients. Of them, bladder neck obstruction in 40 patients (61.5%), their VUD showed "high pressure-low flow" obstructive curve and synchronic image showed bladder neck did not open in a funnel shape and no contrast was found in urethra. Distal urethral stricture in 22 patients (33.8%), VUD showed "high pressure-low flow" obstructive curve and synchronic image showed bladder neck open in a funnel shape, proximal urethra dilated and no contrast was found in distal urethral. Urethral sphincter obstruction in 3 patients (including detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 1 and sphincterismus in 2 patients), VUD showed "high pressure-low flow" obstructive curve and synchronic image showed bladder neck open in a funnel shape, sphincteric urethra did not open, proximal urethra dilated and no contrast was found in distal urethral. (2) Detrusor areflexia (DA) was found in 39 patients (2 patients with hydronephrosis), the VUD finding was: no voluntary detrusor contraction in voiding phase, and abdominal pressure voiding pattern. (3) OAB was found in 3 patients, which VUD findings was frequent involuntary detrusor contraction at storage period with or without urine leakage. (4) Low compliance bladder was found in 17 patients (13.5%), 16 patients with hydronephrosis, the VUD showed that increased bladder storage pressure with significantly decreased bladder safe capacity and compliance, appearance of the bladder as "Christmas tree", with or without ureteral reflux. (5) And stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was in 2.

CONCLUSIONSThe main causes of female BOO may be non-neurogenic conditions or organic obstruction. VUD would offer valuable information for confirmed diagnosis of voiding dysfunction in female patients.