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 Urodynamic evaluation :
 
Your doctor has requested that you have an Urodynamic evaluation.
Urodynamics are simply a combination of several useful tests which provide information about your lower urinary tract. Urodynamics “draws a picture” for your doctor of what happens when your bladder fills up and when it empties.

What is Urodynamics?
“Uro” means urine or related to the urinary system. “Dynamics” means moving against pressure. This test is designed to see how urine fills the bladder and then moves down through the lower urinary system to the outside of your body.

The lower urinary system consists of your ureters, bladder, urethra and sphincter muscle.
 
 
How Does the Lower Urinary System Work?
Your bladder is an organ surrounded by a muscle. The bladder stores urine received from your kidneys. The urine travels down tubes called ureters into two openings at the bottom of your bladder. The urine is stored within the bladder until you decide to empty it. Empting occurs by a contraction of the bladder muscle. A contraction is similar to making a fist with your hand and squeezing it.

The sphincter muscle sits right below the bladder. If you are not ready to empty your bladder, then the sphincter muscle tightens up, like a knot at the bottom of a water-filled balloon. When you decide that it is
time to empty your bladder, the sphincter muscle opens up, like untying the knot

The process of urination then begins as the bladder pushes the urine out down a tube called the urethra. The urethra opens to the outside of your body. .

Urination takes place only when the muscles and nerves are working correctly. Nerves carry messages from the brain to the bladder and sphincter muscles. The Urodynamics test helps to determine how well these nerves and muscles are working together

Preparation for Urodynamics
It is important to have a full bladder when you arrive for the studies; please be ready to urinate! There are no other special preparations or food restrictions for this test. You can help to make the test easier by remaining relaxed. Each step of the evaluation will be explained to you throughout the test by the experienced nurse who performs the studies. Every effort will be made to make you as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
Click here to find out what is included and what is going to happen during and after the Urodynamics

 
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