The value of preoperative urodynamics according to gynecologists and urologists with special interest in stress urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study is to assess variations in practice in the use of preoperative urodynamics in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: We performed an E-survey among all Dutch gynecologists and urologists who have SUI as focus in daily practice. The questions concerned the common policy and preferred policy. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Of the 260 targeted specialists, 163 (63%) responded. We found that 37% of the respondents performed standard preoperative urodynamics; in the preferred practice, this would reduce to only 18%. Eighty percent indicated they would operate a patient with a positive stress test without urodynamic SUI, whereas 21% would do this also in case the clinical stress test was negative. Only 9% of the respondents indicated they adapted the choice of the type of sling based on urethral pressure profilometry parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Urodynamics are not routinely performed, and outcomes hardly influence the choice of treatment. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1565-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.