Synchronous cystoscopy and cystometry in the management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

The physical difficulties associated with cystoscopy and cystometry in the spinal cord injury patient led to a clinical trial of synchronous cystoscopy and cystometry in these individuals. Following a disappointing experience with external transducer methodology, a recently available fiberoptic microtransducer system was used and an effective system was developed. A total of 20 individuals with spinal cord injury underwent a standard water cystometrogram on an examination table followed by synchronous flexible cystoscopy and cystometry using a 5F fiberoptic microtransducer while seated in a chair. The results showed both pressure tracings to be clinically identical. Uninhibited contraction spikes, compliance curves and leak point pressures were essentially the same by both methods and artifact was not a problem. Given the speed, ease and reproducibility of this method, the difficulties with patient transfer for these studies have been virtually eliminated. Two urethral instrumentations have been replaced by 1. Examination room time was decreased from 60 to approximately 10 to 15 minutes with half of the required personnel. Perhaps more importantly, these occasionally problematic individuals clearly prefer this streamlined approach and patient compliance with followup has improved.