New developments in urodynamic investigations

Abstract

In 1882 two Italian physiologists, Mosso and Pellacani [1], used for the first time a rather simple type of cystometer to measure bladder pressure. During the following 100 years, but specifically during the last two decades, a variety of urodynamic techniques have been developed. Already in 1964, Scott et al. [2] described a technique allowing simultaneous recording of intravesical pressure, urinary flow rate and electromyography of the pelvic floor muscles, resp. the external urethral sphincter. But it quickly became obvious, that the X-ray-image is highly important. In 1967 Earl Miller [3] together with Frank Hinman, John Hutch, Göran Enhöring and Emil Tanagho developed a technique for simultaneous display of X-ray and physiologic data. Today we agree that this technique, nowadays called videourodynamics, is the ideal technique for a complex evaluation of lower urinary tract function.1 New developments are focusing on the following points: measurement techniques (1), imaging techniques (2), recording techniques (3), new methods for documentation and storage (4). Furthermore, based on the progress in microelectronics, on the design of instruments (5), on how to perform urodynamic investigations (6) and on the development of new combinations of urodynamic and electrophysiologic testing (7).