EAU guidelines on neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Most patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) require life-long care to maintain their quality of life (QoL) and to maximise life expectancy.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a summary of the 2008 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on NLUTD and to assess the effectiveness of currently available diagnostic tools, particularly ultrasound imaging and urodynamics.


METHODS
The recommendations provided in the 2008 EAU guidelines on NLUTD are based on a review of the literature, using online searches of Medline and other source documents published between 2004 and 2007. A level of evidence and/or a grade of recommendation have been assigned to the guidelines where possible.


RESULTS
NLUTD encompasses a wide spectrum of pathologies, and patients often require life-long, intensive medical care to maximise their life-expectancy and to maintain their QoL. Treatment must be tailored to the needs of the individual patient and, in many cases, involves a multidisciplinary team of experts. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential if irreversible deterioration of both the upper and lower urinary tracts are to be avoided. Therapeutic decisions are made on the basis of a comprehensive medical assessment, including urodynamics to identify the type of dysfunction. Advances in investigative technologies have facilitated the noninvasive and conservative management of patients who have NLUTD.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis and treatment of NLUTD, which is a highly specialised and complex field involving both urology and medicine, requires up-to-date expert advice to be readily available. The current guidelines are designed to fulfil this need.
Stöhrer
Manfred
M
Department of Urology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany. manfred@stoehrer.com
Blok
Bertil
B
Castro-Diaz
David
D
Chartier-Kastler
Emanuel
E
Del Popolo
Giulio
G
Kramer
Guus
G
Pannek
Jürgen
J
Radziszewski
Piotr
P
Wyndaele
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis