The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology
Authors: Flaherty, Alice W.; Rost, Natalia S.
Title: Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology, The, 2nd Edition
Copyright 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
> Table of Contents > Adult Neurology > Uro-Neurology
Uro-Neurology
A. Bladder detrusor and internal sphincter
1. Parasympathetic: Acetylcholine from S2-4 via pelvic nerve constricts bladder via muscarinic receptors.
2. Sympathetic: Norepinephrine from L2-4 via hypogastric nerve constricts sphincter via -receptors. The bladder has -receptors.
B. External sphincter
Voluntary control via S2-4
C. H&P
Often a poor correlation between sx and urodynamic findings.
1. Autonomic dysreflexia: Urgent problem. In pts with spine injury (usually above T5/6). Pain, bladder distension or catheterization, bowel distension, or other stimuli can trigger acute hypertension, bradycardia, anxiety, and headache. Sit the pt. up, and treat BP promptly, e.g., with nifedipine 10 mg SL.
2. Frequency or urgency: From high fluid intake, urinary tract infection, partial outlet obstruction (prostate, diaphragm), upper or lower motor neuron lesion, psychosomatic.
3. Urinary retention: From drugs (anticholinergics, opiates, anesthetics), pain, prostate, lower motor neuron lesion, bladder-sphincter dyssynergia, obstruction.
4. Incontinence:
a. Stress: Often a bladder suspension defect or sphincter damage.
b. Overflow: Dribbling, small volumes, big painful bladder. Causes are those of urinary retention, above.
c. Confusional: Varying volumes, usually shameless.
D. Upper vs. lower motor neuron lesions
Table 36. Distinguishing upper and lower motor neuron lesions. | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
P.126
E. Rx by urodynamic finding
1. Flaccid bladder: Detrusor hyporeflexia, poor voiding. Catheterization helps. Try cholinergics, e.g., bethanechol (Urecholine) 10-50 mg bid-tid. Avoid cholinergics in COPD, PUD, CAD, hyperthyroidism.
2. Spastic bladder: Detrusor hyperreflexia, poor storage. Try anticholinergics, e.g., tolterodine (Detrol) 1 mg bid, oxybutynin (Ditropan) 5 mg bid-tid, implanted stimulator.
3. Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia: Spinal cord lesions above the sacral level can leave just the sphincter spastic. The bladder eventually dilates, but secondarily. Treat with catheterization, anticholinergics, prazosin (an anti- 1-adrenergic, 1 mg bid-tid), Botox.