BACKGROUND: To assess the feasibility of urodynamic study under general anesthesia (GA) we performed electromyography of the external urethral sphincter (EUS-EMG) on 73 children and cystometry (CM) alone on 10 children. METHODS: Subjects were divided into 3 groups. Those in groups I and II were suspected of having voiding dysfunction with (group I) or without (group II) overt neurospinal defects, while those in group III were thought to be functionally normal. EUS-EMG was performed under light anesthesia following cystourethroscopy to examine structural abnormalities. Atropine sulfate premedication was not used for the anesthetic procedure; muscle relaxants were used only for tracheal intubation. RESULTS: Voiding was observed in 83% of the patients. Among patients who voided, detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) was noted in 7 (38%) group I patients and 6 (19%) group II patients; in group III, voiding was synergic in all patients. In 10 cases, CM alone was carried out both under anesthesia and in the waking state; anesthesia suppressed detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) in all 9 patients but produced no change in bladder compliance. CONCLUSIONS: In children with urinary disorders, urodynamic study under GA following cystourethroscopy is a feasible method for assessing EUS function and documenting DSD; DH is not evaluable, however. Stratifying urinary management on the basis of these examinations resulted in satisfactory clinical outcomes.
BACKGROUND: To assess the feasibility of urodynamic study under general anesthesia (GA) we performed electromyography of the external urethral sphincter (EUS-EMG) on 73 children and cystometry (CM) alone on 10 children. METHODS: Subjects were divided into 3 groups. Those in groups I and II were suspected of having voiding dysfunction with (group I) or without (group II) overt neurospinal defects, while those in group III were thought to be functionally normal. EUS-EMG was performed under light anesthesia following cystourethroscopy to examine structural abnormalities. Atropine sulfate premedication was not used for the anesthetic procedure; muscle relaxants were used only for tracheal intubation. RESULTS: Voiding was observed in 83% of the patients. Among patients who voided, detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) was noted in 7 (38%) group I patients and 6 (19%) group II patients; in group III, voiding was synergic in all patients. In 10 cases, CM alone was carried out both under anesthesia and in the waking state; anesthesia suppressed detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) in all 9 patients but produced no change in bladder compliance. CONCLUSIONS: In children with urinary disorders, urodynamic study under GA following cystourethroscopy is a feasible method for assessing EUS function and documenting DSD; DH is not evaluable, however. Stratifying urinary management on the basis of these examinations resulted in satisfactory clinical outcomes.