Underactive bladder

Underactive bladder syndrome (UAB) describes symptoms of difficulty with bladder emptying, such as hesitancy to start the stream, a poor or intermittent stream, or sensations of incomplete bladder emptying. The physical finding of detrusor pressurization of insufficient strength or duration to ensure timely and efficient bladder emptying is properly termed 'detrusor underactivity' (DU) (Abrams et al., 2002). Historically, UAB and DU (as well as others such as 'bladder underactivity') have been often used interchangeably (Rigby D, 2005), leading to both terminologic and pathophysiologic confusion. Patients with UAB have a diminished sense of bladder filling and consequently are often found to have DU as an underlying finding, however bladder outlet obstruction and less frequently volume hypersensitivity ('OAB') can be associated with UAB symptoms (Chapple et al., 2015). Underactive bladder syndrome (UAB) describes symptoms of difficulty with bladder emptying, such as hesitancy to start the stream, a poor or intermittent stream, or sensations of incomplete bladder emptying. The physical finding of detrusor pressurization of insufficient strength or duration to ensure timely and efficient bladder emptying is properly termed 'detrusor underactivity' (DU) (Abrams et al., 2002). Historically, UAB and DU (as well as others such as 'bladder underactivity') have been often used interchangeably (Rigby D, 2005), leading to both terminologic and pathophysiologic confusion. Patients with UAB have a diminished sense of bladder filling and consequently are often found to have DU as an underlying finding, however bladder outlet obstruction and less frequently volume hypersensitivity ('OAB') can be associated with UAB symptoms (Chapple et al., 2015).