Evaluation of morbidity of multi-channel pressure-flow studies

This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the morbidity and compli cation rate of invasive urodynamics of the lower urinary tract after receiv ing oral antibiotic prophylactic treatment. A total of 105 patients, 55 men and 50 women, were included in the study and underwent pressure flow study (PFS) as part of the diagnostic assessment. Clinical diagnosis was prostat ic obstruction from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men and stress ur inary incontinence or voiding dysfunction in women. Urine was screened for infection both before and after testing, and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI), dysuria, and other complications were assessed at 1-week follow-up to evaluate post-investigation morbidity. Dysuria of mild degree was experienced by 33% of patients, with no significant difference between male and female patients. Post-investigational UTI and fever were reported in 3.6% of men and 4% of women. Six patients had macroscopic hematuria of mild degree. No patient had urinary retention or severe complaints after th e investigation and no patient required hospitalization. Post-void residual volume was higher in men with BPH obstruction compared to women; a signifi cant difference between post-investigational UTI and residual volume could not be demonstrated (P = 0.8). We conclude that the objective morbidity rat e of invasive urodynamic investigation is low. Mild dysuria is common, whil e severe complications, fever, and hematuria are seldom reported, and the r isk of developing UTIs is low with antibiotic prophylaxis, with no signific ant difference between men and women. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss,Inc.