Here are some of tests used to diagnosis incontinence and bladder control problems.
Uroflowmetry (Measurement of Urine Speed and Volume)
A uroflowmeter automatically measures the amount of urine and the flow rate—that is, how fast the urine comes out. Your parent may be asked to urinate privately into a toilet that contains a collection device and scale. This equipment creates a graph that shows changes in flow rate from second to second so the doctor or nurse can see the peak flow rate and how many seconds it took to get there. Results of this test will be abnormal if the bladder muscle is weak or urine flow is obstructed.
Your doctor or nurse can also get some idea of bladder function by using a stopwatch to time your parent as they urinate into a graduated container. The volume of urine is divided by the time to see what your average flow rate is. For example, 330 milliliters (mL) of urine in 30 seconds means that your average flow rate is 11 mL per second.
Measurement of Postvoid Residual
After your parent has finished, they may still have some urine, usually only an ounce or two, remaining in the bladder. To measure this postvoid residual, the doctor or nurse may use a catheter, a thin tube that can be gently glided into the urethra. He or she can also measure the postvoid residual with ultrasound equipment that uses harmless sound waves to create a picture of the bladder. A postvoid residual of more than 200 mL, about half a pint, is a clear sign of a problem. Even 100 mL, about half a cup, requires further evaluation. However, the amount of postvoid residual can be different each time you urinate.
Cystometry (Measurement of Bladder Pressure)
A cystometrogram (CMG) measures how much the bladder can hold, how much pressure builds up inside the bladder as it stores urine, and how full it is when you feel the urge to urinate. The doctor or nurse will use a catheter to empty the bladder completely. Then a special, smaller catheter will be placed in the bladder. This catheter has a pressure-measuring device called a manometer. Another catheter may be placed in the rectum to record pressure there as well. The bladder will be filled slowly with warm water. During this time your parent will be asked how the bladder feels and when they feel the need to urinate. The volume of water and the bladder pressure will be recorded. Your eldery parent may be asked to cough or strain during this procedure. Involuntary bladder contractions can be identified.
Measurement of Leak Point Pressure
While the bladder is being filled for the CMG, it may suddenly contract and squeeze some water out without warning. The manometer will record the pressure at the point when the leakage occurred. This reading may provide information about the kind of bladder problem your parent has. Your elderly parent may also be asked to apply abdominal pressure to the bladder by coughing, shifting position, or trying to exhale while holding their nose and mouth. These actions help the doctor or nurse evaluate the sphincter muscles.
Pressure Flow Study
After the CMG, your parent will be asked to empty their bladder. The catheter can measure the bladder pressures required to urinate and the flow rate a given pressure generates. This pressure flow study helps to identify bladder outlet obstruction that men may experience with prostate enlargement. Bladder outlet obstruction is less common in women but can occur with a fallen bladder or rarely after a surgical procedure for urinary incontinence. Most catheters can be used for both CMG and pressure flow studies.
Electromyography (Measurement of Nerve Impulses)
If your doctor or nurse thinks that your parent's urinary problem is related to nerve or muscle damage, he or she may be given an electromyography. This test measures the muscle activity in and around the urethral sphincter by using special sensors. The sensors are placed on the skin near the urethra and rectum or they are located on the urethral or rectal catheter. Muscle activity is recorded on a machine. The patterns of the impulses will show whether the messages sent to the bladder and urethra are coordinated correctly.
Urodynamic tests may be performed with or without equipment to take pictures of the bladder during filling and emptying. The imaging equipment may use x rays or sound waves. If x-ray equipment is used, the bladder will be filled with a contrast medium that will show up on the x ray instead of the warm water. The pictures and videos show the size and shape of the urinary tract and help your doctor or nurse understand the problem.
Your parent may have mild discomfort for a few hours after these tests when they urinate. Drinking an 8-ounce glass of water each half-hour for 2 hours should help. Ask your doctor whether your parent can take a warm bath. If not, you may be able to hold a warm, damp washcloth over the urethral opening to relieve the discomfort.
Your doctor may give an antibiotic to take for 1 or 2 days to prevent an infection. If your parent has signs of infection—including pain, chills, or fever—call your doctor at once.
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.