[Accuracy of pressure measurements obtained with a new rectal balloon catheter].
The accuracy of measurements performed by a balloon catheter used to record abdominal pressure during urodynamic investigations was verified on a test bench.


OBJECTIVE
To study the accuracy and precision of the pressure measurements obtained with a new rectal balloon catheter (ref. 95018 Laboratoires Vermed), designed to record abdominal pressure during urodynamic assessments. The clinical value of this catheter, using air for pressure transmission, is its simplicity, as there is no contamination of the perfusion circuit or transducer, no purging of the circuit, and artefacts related to movements of the tubing are eliminated.


METHODS
The catheter was placed in a pressure chamber fitted with a precise, calibrated regulation system allowing programmed pressure variations from 10 to 150 cmH2O. Pressures recorded by the test catheter were compared to reference pressures applied to the chamber. The frequency of acquisition of pressure measurements was 100 Hertz and the resolution was 10 Hertz. This model was used to study the accuracy of pressure measurements and the response times of the catheter. Measurements were performed with a volume of 2 ml of air introduced into the catheter (volume recommended by the manufacturer), and the optimal volume was investigated by inflating the catheter until the best result was obtained. The evaluation was based on calculation of the mean difference observed between the two measurements and the scatter of the differences observed.


RESULTS
When the catheter was filled with 2 ml of air, pressures measured by the catheter were overestimated an average of 1.1 cmH2O (standard deviation = 1), and 95% of the differences between the two measurements were within +/- 2.15 cmH2O. The optimal air volume was found to be 1.5 ml. With this air volume, no significant difference was observed between the two measurements. The mean observed difference was 0.2 cmH2O (SD = 1.2), which means that 95% of the differences were situated within the range of +/- 2.35 cmH2O.


CONCLUSIONS
The pressure recording method with this new catheter is validated in terms of physical parameters.
Le Normand
L
L
Clinique Urologique, CHU Nantes, France. llenormand@chu-nantes.fr
Glemain
P
P
Cordonnier
J P
JP
Brunel
P
P
Karam
G
G
Boullanger
P
P
Buzelin
J M
JM
D004867:Equipment Design; D011312:Pressure; D012007:Rectum; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014563:Urodynamics; D014572:Urology / Q000295:instrumentation*