Objective
To introduce and evaluate the availability of a newly devised ambulatory urodynamic system using the abdominal EMG (electromyography) method instead of the rectal catheter in measuring the abdominal pressure, and to compare with conventional urodynamic system in patients with spinal cord injury. Method: We examined 15 hospitalized subjects with spinal cord injury. Patients were investigated by conventional urodynamics in an examination room, and followed by ambulatory urodynamics in a ward. We used the abdominal EMG and the rectal catheter for the abdominal pressure in the study. We measured urodynamic parameters : volumes of sensations in bladder filling, peak Pdet(detrusor pressure) during filling, maximal Pdet during voiding, bladder capacity, compliance and duration of filling. Results: There was no significant statistic difference in the parameters between the conventional and the ambulatory urodynamics. There were strong correlations between the parameters measured by the rectal catheter and the abdominal EMG in the ambulatory system and between the parameters in the conventional system and in the ambulatory system. Conclusion: There were strong correlation and no significant statistic differences in the parameters between the ambulatory system using abdominal EMG method and the conventional system. Therefore, we suggest that the newly devised ambulatory urodynamic system using abdominal EMG method can be used instead of the conventional non-ambulatory system and the conventional ambulatory system. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 600-606)
