Assessment of quality in urodynamics: Cough versus valsalva.

Quality control during urodynamics is important to ensure diagnostic accuracy. This is the first study to compare two methods of quality control, coughs, and Valsalva maneuvers. Coughs are a useful indicator of pressure transmission quality at all time points throughout urodynamic studies. However, at low volumes, Valsalva maneuvers give a better indication of quality, with lower variability, whereas at cystometric capacity coughs performed better. Therefore, if poor pressure transmission occurs with cough during urodynamics, particularly at low volumes, it is recommended that a Valsalva maneuver is used to further assess whether pressure transmission and thus urodynamic quality is satisfactory.