Dysfunctional Voiding and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms With Baclofen

Dysfunctional voiding is often associated with constipation. The association of constipation with urologic pathologic processes has previously been described since the 1950's, but it was only over the past decade that clinicians have paid more attention to this relationship and recognized it existence with the term dysfunctional elimination syndrome (DES). This term is used to reflect the broad spectrum of functional disturbances that may affect the urinary tract including that of functional bowl disturbances and can be classified as follows: * Functional disorder of filling: overactive bladder, over distention of bladder or insensate bladder, which may be associated with fecal impaction or rectal distention with infrequent bowel movements * Functional disorder of emptying: over-recruitment of pelvic floor activity during voiding causing interrupted and/or incomplete emptying also associated with defecation difficulties due to non- relaxation of the puborectalis muscle, dyssynergic defecation or pain with defecation Several different therapeutic options have been used for patients with dysfunctional voiding mainly to decrease bladder outlet obstruction. These treatments including, alpha adrenergic antagonists, and botulinum toxin are less than optimum. One possible explanation for these drug failures includes the inability of these medications to relax the striated muscles of the pelvic floor necessary for voiding. To date there has been no data to evaluate the role of baclofen on the striated muscle of the external anal sphincter, essential in the defecation process.