Shifting to 4 × 1 intermittent catheterization without an early follow-up urodynamic study is possible in most patients with subacute spinal cord injury.
We retrospectively evaluated the frequency of changing to 4/day intermittent catheterization (IC) in patients with subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) who had been initiated on IC 6 times a day and started oral anticholinergic treatment following urodynamic investigation for decreased maximum cystometric capacity and undergone a follow-up urodynamic study within 45 days. The goal of the study was to see if the second urodynamic study was necessary.



The frequency of shifting to 4/day IC was investigated retrospectively in 27 patients with subacute SCI who were prescribed 6/day IC.



In 25 of 27 patients a bladder capacity of 400 ml or more was reached in urodynamic study carried out in the following 45 days and the patients were shifted to 4/day IC. There was a significant difference between the anticholinergic pre-treatment (293 ± 39 ml) and post-treatment (531 ± 81 ml) capacities (P < 0.001). The mean increase in bladder capacity in all patients was 237.6 ± 79.5 ml (83.5 ± 32.1%).



Patients with subacute SCI who were prescribed 6/day IC and were given an oral anticholinergic drug can be shifted to 4/day IC after 45 days without performing an early control urodynamic study if the patients use the drug properly. However in the long-run, periodic follow-up urodynamic studies should be carried out at appropriate intervals, according to the patients' clinical findings.
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Medical Faculty of Yıldırım Beyazıt University , Ankara , Turkey.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Murat
M
Ersöz
b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Engin
E
Koyuncu
b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Müfit
M
Akyüz
b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Neşe
N
Özgirgin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057928:Intermittent Urethral Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics
Anticholinergic therapy; Intermittent catheter frequency; Spinal cord injury; Urodynamics