Urethral Closure Pressure Profiles

Abstract

Urethral closure pressure profiles are measurements of integrated pressure curves from the entire length of the urethra and are measured by the slow withdrawal of a pressure-measuring catheter through the urethra at a constant rate. Urethral closure profiles may be static, done with the patient at rest either in the supine, sitting or standing position; or they may be dynamic, recorded while the patient is either coughing repetitively, performing a Valsalva maneuver or squeezing to prevent the passage of flatus or the passage of urine. Measurement of static urethral closure pressure profiles allows the investigator to make comparisons of preoperative and postoperative measurements or between different positions and states of bladder fullness in the same patient. Such static assessment, although not diagnostic for genuine stress incontinence may still provide the examiner with useful information. Comparisons of dynamic profiles during coughing and Valsalva allow the examiner to make the diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence when pressure equalization is noted in the absence of an increase in detrusor pressure.