title: [Incontinence after retropubic radical prostatectomy: correlation between ultrasonographic morphological data and urodynamic parameters].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationships existing between transrectal ultrasound and urodynamics in patients undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy and affected by stress incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  78 patients were suitabe for the study. They have been divided in three groups: group A, 18 incontinent patients (at least 1 pad a day); group B, 30 patients with occasional dribbling (no incontinence device needed); group C, 30 continent patients. All the patients have undergone urethral pressure profile (UPP), abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). ultrasound has been performed injecting saline solution in the spongious and bulbar urethra to dilate it and better visualize a collapsed tract corresponding to the distal sphincter, that was measured. Different doctors performed TRUS and urodynamics, and each ignored the results of the other tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of TRUS length of the collapsed urethral segment was 5.47 mm (range 4.9-6.0) for group A, 11.5 mm (9.5-12.9) for group B, 13.8 mm (10.4-14.7) for group C. the mean value of rest FUL was 36.6 (range 23-52) for group A, 31.7 (range 21-37) for group B, 13.8 (range 10.4-14.7) for group C. The mean value of stress FUL was 20.3 (range 5-29) for group A, 20.7 (range 18-27) for group B, 25.0 (range 20-35) for group C. The mean value of VLPP was 61.9 cm H2O for group A, 83.6 cm H2O for group B, > 90 cm H2O for group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ranges of values of VLPP were narrower and showed less overlap among the groups than UPP. TRUS length showed a good correlation with VLPP and permitted to differentiate incontinent patients from continent patients and patients with occasional dribbling. These data correlate well with the possible role of the length of the urethral stump and of damage to genitourinary diaphragm in post-prostatectomy incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Urologia II, Università degli Studi di Bari.
authors.forename: Gianfranco Giocoli
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nacci
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masiello
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Francesco Paolo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Achille
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagliarulo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics