Incontinence Flashcards
Is incontinence a normal part of ageing?
No
What proportion of women will become incontinent?
50%
Explain an analogy for thinking about incontinence
Think of the bladder as a reservoir and the pelvic floor muscles as a dam that keep the urine in the reservoir
What are the types of incontience?
Stress Urge Mixed stress and urge Overflow Functional
What is stress incontinence?
Weakness in the pelvic floor muscles
- the dam is not big or strong enough
What is urge incontinence?
Overactive bladder (pelvic floor ok) - The reservoir contracts suddenly
What is overflow incontinence?
Blockage to the passage of urine causes accumulation in the bladder and eventual sudden release of urine
- The reservoir is getting bigger and bigger and then overflows
- The dam/pelvic floor is ok
What is functional incontinence and give causes?
something external from the urogenital tract is causing incontinence
- poor mobility and frailty
- arthritis
- cognitive impairment - can’t remember where toilet is
What are the causes of stress incontinence?
Obesity
Weak pelvic floor muscles
What are the causes of urge incontinence?
Caffeine – diuretic and irritant
Alcohol – diuretic
Drinking too much – overstretches the bladder
Drinking too little – concentrated urine acts as irritant
UTI
What is the main cause of overflow incontinence?
Usually in men with prostatic enlargement
How does stress incontinence present?
Incontinence when sneezing, coughing, exercise, laughing
How does urge incontinence present?
Frequency
Urgency - if you are doing an activity, can you finish it or do you have to drop everything and go?
Nocturia
How does overflow incontinence present?
Hesitancy - Difficulties starting to pass urine
Poor stream
Dribbling
Large residual volume – chronic
(think of someone with BPH)
What questions might you ask sb in an incontinence history?
Identify what type of incontinence it is
Ask about LUTS and situations where incontinence happens
Severity - do they have to plan where the toilets are when they go out, do they have any accidents, do they wear pads?
Is it new or old (especially in geriatric pts on a ward- don’t assume it is new, check GP record)