Abstract
Neuro-urological studies were performed on 9 patients with a spinal arteriovenous malformation (S-AVM). The micturitional history revealed that all 9 patients had voiding symptoms, obstructive in 9 and irritative in 3 patients. All patients still had obstructive symptoms after treatment of S-AVM. Six of the 9 patients had a large volume of residual urine before treatment; 5 showed urinary retention. Four of the 5 patients (80%) for whom urodynamic studies were performed before treatment had micturitional dysfunction; 2 patients had detrusor hyperreflexia, 1 with detrusor external urethral sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) and 1 with a normal sphincter, 1 patient had an autonomous bladder with DSD and 1 patient had an atonic bladder with DSD. Only 1 patient had a normal bladder and sphincter. Findings of the urodynamic studies after treatment in 9 patients showed detrusor hyperreflexia in 3 patients (2 with DSD and 1 with normal sphincter), autonomous bladder in 1 patient with DSD, atonic bladder in 4 patients (2 with DSD, 1 with incompetent sphincter and 1 with normal sphincter) and normal bladder with normal sphincter in 1 patient. Lower urinary function after treatment of S-AVM was improved in 2 patients, unchanged in 4 patients and worsened in 3 patients.
The above results showed 80% of S-AVM had a severe neuropathic bladder manifested mainly by disturbance of micturition. Treatment of S-AVM does not necessarily improve the lower urinary tract function.
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Murayama, N., Yasuda, K., Yamanishi, T. et al. Disturbances of micturition in patients with a spinal arteriovenous malformation. Spinal Cord 27, 212–216 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1989.31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1989.31