The Effects of Drugs and Anaesthetic Agents on the Urinary Bladder and Sphincters

Abstract

Summary Many patients undergoing urodynamic investigations have pressure studies performed under sedation or general anaesthesia. Some of the agents used are known to have effects on smooth muscle (Curreri and Gale, 1950; Burn and Epstein, 1959) and could, therefore, invalidate the results obtained. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of these agents on urethral resistance and bladder capacity. The influence of sedative, anaesthetic and neuromuscular blocking drugs on diagnostic urethral pressure profiles and cystometrograms has been investigated. These agents have marked effects on the results obtained; in particular, the urethral pressure profile was raised by opiates and lowered by anaesthetic induction agents. Bladder capacity as measured by the cystometrogram was greatly increased by halothane. These findings indicate that urodynainic studies should be performed only on conscious unsedated patients.