Urodynamics

Lower urinary tract dysfunction produces a huge burden on sufferers in particular and on society in general. Lower urinary tract symptoms have a high prevalence in the community: 5% of children aged 10 wet the bed, while 15% of women and 7% of men have troublesome in­ continence; and in elderly men of 75, benign prostatic hyperplasia occurs in more than 80% of individuals, with benign prostatic en­ largement coexisting in up to half this group and half of these having bladder outlet obstruction. The confusion felt in many people's minds as to the role of uro­ dynamics has receded for the most part. The need to support the clinical assessment with objective measurement has become accepted by most clinicians specialising in the care of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Since the first edition of this book in 1983, urodynamics has become more widely accepted. In the last ten years the number of urodynamic units in Britain and Europe has increased rapidly and almost every hospital of any significance embraces urodynamic investigations as an essential part of the diag­ nostic armamentarium of the urology and gynaecology departments. Further, specialists in geriatrics, paediatrics and neurology recognise the importance of urodynamics in the investigation of a significant minority of their patients.