Premium
Complex repetitive discharges during urethral sphincter EMG: Clinical correlates
Author(s) -
FitzGerald M.P.,
Blazek B.,
Brubaker L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6777(2000)19:5<577::aid-nau4>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , urinary incontinence , population , surgery , urethral sphincter , urethra , urinary system , anorectal manometry , denervation , urology , anesthesia , defecation , environmental health
Complex repetitive discharges (CRDs) are a form of abnormal needle electromyographic (EMG) activity associated with a variety of neuromuscular disorders, including chronic denervation. Urethral CRDs have also been associated with symptoms of voiding dysfunction. We reviewed the findings of 351 consecutive urethral sphincter EMG studies to characterize the patients with CRDs in our patient population and further to characterize the peri‐operative course of any patient with urethral CRDs who underwent surgery for genuine stress incontinence (GSI). Among the 351 women studied, a subgroup of 27 (8%) women demonstrated CRDs during their study. Patients with CRDs were more likely to report the symptom of strain voiding (48% of patients with CRDs, 18% of patients without CRDs; χ 2 (1) = 17.6, P < 0.001). Patients with CRDs were also more likely to have undergone prior urethral dilation (15% of patients with CRDs versus 2% of patients without CRDs, χ 2 (1) = 9.5, P < 0.01). Patients with CRDs were similar to patients without CRDs with respect to symptoms of incontinence and history of hysterectomy or surgery for incontinence. Ten patients who had urethral CRDs underwent surgery for their GSI with a 90% success rate. The duration of post‐operative catheterization did not differ from that of our general population of patients undergoing similar procedures. Urethral CRDs appear to be a non‐specific finding, and it is premature to alter the approach to patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction for this reason. Neurourol. Urodynam. 19:577–583, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.