title: Use of transvaginal ultrasound in females with primary bladder neck obstruction. A preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The video-urodynamics study is the principal exam to establish a possible primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) condition. While trans-rectal ultrasonography plays an important role in the evaluation of the low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the severity of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men, the use of the transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) in women with symptoms suggesting BOO remains unclear. We tried to check the utility of the TVUS in women with PBNO condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected female patients which presented BOO without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). According to the data of the video-urodynamic exam we selected the patients with the suspicion of PBNO. A TVUS in basal and during micturition was performed before and after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TVUS showed a closed bladder neck bladder in basal condition and during micturition similarly to the fluoroscopic image during video-urodynamics. The mean distance from bladder neck to the vaginal mucosa resulted 1.3 cm in this patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TVUS results worthy in the evaluation of patients with PBNO before and after surgery.
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Urology Department of "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo. elonatoska@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Vikiela
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galica
authors.forename: Elona
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toska
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saldutto
authors.forename: Giuseppe Paradiso
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Galatioto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicentini
mesh_terms: D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014563:Urodynamics; D014621:Vagina