genitourinary disorders
Urinary Incontinence in Adults
Key Points
Because patients often do not volunteer that they are incontinent, ask about it specifically. Incontinence is not a normal consequence of aging and should always be investigated. The 4 types of urinary incontinence are urge, stress, overflow, and functional. Even some longstanding causes of incontinence are reversible. Do at least a urinalysis, urine culture, serum BUN and creatinine, and measurement of postvoid residual volume on all incontinent patients. Consider bladder training and Kegel exercises. Direct drug therapy toward correcting the mechanism of bladder dysfunction. 