Simultaneous Urethrocystometry Research Articles

The effect of changes of posture on the urethral closure pressure in stress-incontinent women.

The effects of changes of posture on intravesical and intra-urethral pressures were investigated in 10 women suffering from urinary stress incontinence. The patients were investigated in the supine and erect positions by simultaneous urethrocystometry and recording of the urethral pressure profile. In the supine position, the mean intravesical pressure was 12 mmHg, the mean maximum intra-urethral pressure 35 mmHg, and the mean urethral closure pressure 23 mmHg. When changing to the standing position, there was a statistically significant increase in the bladder pressure to 26 mmHg, and in the maximum intra-urethral pressure to 47 mmHg. The urethral closure pressure fell to 21 mmHg. The absolute length of the urethra increased from 25 to 30 mm, and the functional length from 20 to 22 mm. When compared with values found by the authors in an earlier, similar investigation on normal women, the maximum intra-urethral pressure is lower, and the functional and absolute lengths of the urethra are shorter in stres...

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Urge Urinary Incontinence in Women

Under standardized conditions, simultaneous urethrocystometry and recording of urethral pressure profile were performed in 10 healthy volunteers and 20 patients suffering from urge incontinence. In the normal subjects, desire to void occurred at a bladder volume of about 300 cm3. At maximum bladder capacity (approximately 500 cm3), variations in intraurethral pressure were recorded at a time when the intravesical pressure remained stable. Immediately before voiding, there was a marked reduction in intraurethral pressure and then the intravesical pressure increased. In 10 of the patients with symptoms of urge incontinence, the findings did not differ from those in the normal subjects. In the other 10 patients, urgency was reported at bladder volumes between 125 and 150 cm3, and the maximum bladder capacity did not exceed 200 cm3. In 8 of them, marked variations in intraurethral pressure were recorded when urge was experienced, whereas the bladder pressure remained stable. In 2 of the patients, variations in intraurethral and intravesical pressure occurred simultaneously. The role of the urethra in urge incontinence is discussed.

A new technique for simultaneous urethrocystometry including measurements of the urethral pressure profile.

A new standardized technique for continuous recording of the urethral pressure profile simultaneously with intravesical pressure has been developed. The pressure are recorded using two microtransducers enclosed in a thin Dacron catheter. The catheter is moved at a constant speed through the urethra with the aid of a specially designed withdrawal instrument. Using electronic subtraction the closure pressure can easily be measured simultaneously with the intravesical and intraurethral pressure. About 900 investigations have been performed with this technique. It has been testified that very detailed information about normal micturition as well as stress and urgency incontinence can be obtained. The functional as well as the absolute length of the urethra can be estimated within half a millimeter.

The effect of changes of posture on the urethral closure pressure in healthy women.

The effect of changes of posture on hydrodynamic parameters considered important for the maintenance of urinary continence was investigated in 14 healthy women. The subjects were investigated in the supine and erect positions using a previously described technique for simultaneous urethrocystometry, including recording of the urethral pressure profile. It was found that a change from the supine to the standing position increased the maximum intravesical pressure from a mean value of 13 mmHg to 22 mmHg. There was a simultaneous increase in the maximum intra-urethral pressure from a mean of 66 mmHg to 82 mmHg. As a consequence, the urethral closure pressure increased from a mean of 53 mmHg to 60 mmHg. The functional length of the urethra increased from 25 mm to 28 mm, and the absolute length from 28 mm to 36 mm. It is concluded that in healthy women, a change from the supine to the standing position causes a rise in the maximum intra-urethral pressure and an increase in the absolute and functional lengths of the urethra. These effects counteract the simultaneous increase in bladder pressure, and can be regarded as compensatory mechanisms for the maintenance of continence.

Simultaneous Urethro-Cystometry with a New Technique

A new technique for studying simultaneous intravesical-intraurethral pressure is described. The basic principle of our technique is pressure recordings with the aid of micro-transducers. These micro-transducers have excellent frequency response, are easy to calibrate and to sterilize and are free from artefacts induced by motion. They permit a more accurate study of the pressures within the bladder and the urethra than catheter-transducer systems described earlier. Using electronical subtraction the closure pressure can easily be measured under static and dynamic conditions. Typical pressure diagrammes obtained with this catheter system are presented.

Simultaneous Urethrocystometry and Urethra Pressure Profile Measurement with a new Technique

A new technique for simultaneous recording of the pressures within the urethra and urinary bladder is described. The pressures are recorded by microtransducers enclosed in a semiflexible dacron catheter. The recording system has a high frequency response (2000 HZ) and is free of motion-induced artefacts, which makes it possible to measure the urethra pressure profile with a high degree of precision.