Urodynamics: what to do and when is it clinically necessary?

The role of urodynamics in the evaluation and treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms is not well defined. Symptoms do not correlate very well with urodynamic findings, but patients with prostatic obstruction fare better after ablative prostatic surgery than those with impaired detrusor contractility. The only proven method for distinguishing between the two is urodynamics, ie, the detrusor pressure/uroflow study. This article reviews urodynamic techniques and the literature pertaining to urodynamics, along with their clinical utility in benign prostatic hyperplasia. The role of urodynamics in clinical practice is discussed as well.