Clinical assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms in adults.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) result from conditions and diseases that affect the bladder and the urethra, and can occur in men and women of all ages. LUTS can be debilitating and affect a person's quality of life significantly. This article describes the definitions and classification of various LUTS, explains the aspects of an initial LUTS assessment and outlines the validated tools that can be used to support this process, including questionnaires and bladder diaries.

Evaluating the implementation of a quality improvement process in General Practice using a realist evaluation framework.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: Underuse of anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation is known to increase the risk of stroke and is an international problem. The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence guidance CG180 seeks to reduce atrial fibrillation related strokes through prescriptions of Non-vitamin K antagonist Oral Anticoagulants. A quality improvement programme was established by the West of England Academic Health Science Network (West of England AHSN) to implement this guidance into General Practice.

Simultaneous in vivo comparison of water-filled and air-filled pressure measurement catheters: Implications for good urodynamic practice.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate whether the pressure readings obtained from air-filled catheters (AFCs) are the same as the readings from simultaneously inserted water-filled catheters (WFCs). It also aimed to make any possible recommendations for the use of AFCs to conform to International Continence Society (ICS) Good Urodynamic Practices (GUP).

Methods: Female patients undergoing urodynamic studies in a single center had water-filled and air-filled catheters simultaneously measuring abdominal and intravesical pressure during filling with saline and during voiding.

The efficacy and safety of PSD503 (phenylephrine 20%, w/w) for topical application in women with stress urinary incontinence. A phase II, multicentre, double-blind, placebo controlled, 2-way cross over study.

Objective: PSD503 is a topical gel containing phenylephrine 20% weight/weight (w/w) intended for vaginal application close to the area of the urethral sphincter in women with SUI and has been used in patients with faecal incontinence. The primary objective of this proof of concept study was to evaluate the efficacy of PSD503 in women with SUI as measured by the change in pad weight following an exercise stress pad test. The secondary objectives were to evaluate plasma concentrations of PSD503, BP changes and pulse rate over 3h following administration and to assess safety and tolerability.

The long-term natural history of overactive bladder symptoms due to idiopathic detrusor overactivity in women.

Objectives: To assess the long-term natural history of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms due to idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO) in women.

Patients And Methods: Original urodynamic traces were reviewed and women who were referred with OAB symptoms and found to have IDO on investigation in our urodynamic unit ≥10 years previously were invited for a repeat urodynamic and symptomatic assessment.

Results: In all, 174 women were identified and invited to participate; 53 had repeat urodynamics, another 32 attended the unit for symptom assessment and a further 23 completed postal questionnaires.