Value of urethral pressure profilometry in the female incontinent patient: a prospective trial with an 8-channel urethral catheter.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the pressure profiles at different positions of the urethral circumference simultaneously.


METHODS
Twenty-two women with symptoms of genuine stress incontinence underwent urogynecologic assessment and multichannel urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) at rest with a specially designed 8-channel urethral catheter with radial openings.


RESULTS
The distribution pattern of maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and functional urethral length (FUL) values were significantly different (P=0.004 and P=0.0004, respectively). Most of the highest MUCP values per patient were found between channels 2 and 4 (P=0.015); most of the greatest FUL values per patient were found between channels 3 and 4 (P=0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
The data of our study substantiate asymmetric radial pressure distribution within the urethra and underline the necessity of cautious interpretation of results of conventional single-channel UPP, which might vary because of transducer orientation.
Haeusler
G
G
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, Austria.
Tempfer
C
C
Heinzl
H
H
Sam
C
C
Hefler
L
L
Hanzal
E
E
Koelbl
H
H
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics