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Urethral resistance measurement: a new method for evaluation of stress urinary incontinence in women

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method to measure urethral resistance among 66 women with urinary incontinence. A stainless steel sphere attached to a guide wire was developed. The sphere is inserted into the bladder and withdrawn through the urethra at a steady rate. Serial measurements with spheres of 5, 6 and 7 mm were performed. The mean urethral resistance as measured by the largest sphere (0.07±0.03) was significantly greater than that measured by the medium sphere (0.06±0.02, p<0.0001), which was significantly larger than that measured by the smallest sphere (0.04±0.01, p<0.0001). There was good correlation of urethral resistance with maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) by this technique, but no correlation with Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua: Alexander Flemming 101, Mailbox 6081, 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    V. Herrmann, P. C. Palma & C. L. Riccetto

  2. University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA

    L. A. Arya

  3. Women and Infant’s Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA

    D. L. Myers & N. D. Jackson

Authors
  1. V. Herrmann
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  2. L. A. Arya
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  3. D. L. Myers
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  4. N. D. Jackson
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  5. P. C. Palma
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  6. C. L. Riccetto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Herrmann.

Additional information

Editorial Comment: This study attempts to demonstrate the validity and reproducibility of measuring maximum urethral resistance. Further studies will need to be performed to see if this technique will be clinically useful, i.e., comparing values in continent and incontinent women, old vs. young population, etc. There is a need to better test to measure urethral function than leak point pressure and urethral pressure profile/MUCP

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Herrmann, V., Arya, L.A., Myers, D.L. et al. Urethral resistance measurement: a new method for evaluation of stress urinary incontinence in women. Int Urogynecol J 15, 208–211 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-004-1142-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-004-1142-z

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