The normal pattern of perception of bladder filling during cystometry studied in 38 young healthy volunteers

Purpose: The normal pattern of sensation during the tonic phase of cystometric bladder filling was evaluated in a group of young healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: A total of 38 healthy volunteers 19 to 28 years old described the sensations they perceived while sitting during medium fill cystometry after the bladder was filled through a urethral catheter with saline at body temperature. Results: Of the subjects 4 had unstable bladder contractions that corresponded with some sensations reported, and 34 with a stable bladder perceived a first sensation of filling, first desire to void and strong desire to void. Each sensation was easily distinguishable from the others. Bladder volumes at the different sensations as well as detrusor pressures strongly correlated with each other. Conclusions: Although sensations reported during cystometric bladder filling are subjective, they have a normal pattern. Since these sensations are easily distinguished from each other and occur at interrelated volumes, they probably correspond with specific physiological mechanisms as suggested previously. Therefore, evaluation of these sensations could provide additional relevant information during urodynamics.