Evaluation of the utility of video-urodynamics in children with urinary tract infection and voiding dysfunction

Objective To assess the use of video-urodynamic studies (VUDS) in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) and symptoms of voiding dysfunction (frequency, urgency, incontinence), to ascertain whether VUDS significantly assists in diagnosis and deciding treatment. Patients and methods Over a 16-month period, all children seen at our centre with a UTI in conjunction with previous symptoms suggestive of voiding dysfunction underwent free and pressure-flow VUDS, Forty-two children underwent VUDS and 38 (mean age 9 years, range 4-16, 15 male, 23 female) had sufficient information to be included in the study. Results All children had a prior history of voiding dysfunction (mean 55 months). Only five patients were found to have reflux and three of these had associated detrusor instability. In addition, 24 of 33 patients who did not have reflux had abnormalities on urodynamic study, the most common problem being detrusor instability in 17 of 24 patients. Other abnormalities included sphincter dyssynergia (five patients), poor bladder compliance (two) and hypersensitivity on bladder filling (three). Conclusion VUDS can provide information about the aetiology of UTI and voiding dysfunction in children that cannot be obtained from any other source. The results of VUDS can be used to select specific treatments, to avoid inappropriate therapy and to identify children who may benefit from follow-up studies despite normal findings on voiding cystourethrography. From these results, we believe that VUDS should be considered for children with UTI and voiding dysfunction.