Patient History

Abstract

A targeted history and physical examination are the main stays for the basic evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to neurologic or suspected neurologic disease. Before any functional investigation is planned all “basic” data should be collected and used for further interpretation of neurogenic LUT dysfunction. The information gained from basic investigation is essential to define patients, who require more invasive (and more costly) testing, e.g. (Video-) Urodynamics. Urodynamics and video-urodynamics provide a more precise characterisation of bladder and sphincter dysfunction, but make only sense, if one knows from the basic data which specific information one can expect and which signs should be observed when doing these investigations. Otherwise even video-urodynamics may be an inappropriate testing and my lead to false diagnosis. Therefore, already at the first visit, one should aim to get as much information as possible from a targeted history and a focused physical examination.