INFLUENCE OF CATHETERIZATION ON THE RESULTS OF SONOGRAPHIC URETHROCYSTOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH GENUINE STRESS-INCONTINENCE

Using introital sonography as an alternative to lateral chain urethroc ystography during urodynamic studies, a prospective investigation was carried out in 47 patients with lower urinary tract complaints, to det ermine the correlation of sonographic assessment with and without blad der catheterisation. The apparent location of the bladder neck in rela tion to the public symphysis and measurements of the posterior urethro vesical angle at rest and during straining during cystometry with and without intravesical urodynamic pressure transducers were determined. In 22 (46.8%) patients the bladder neck at rest was below the lower ed ge of the symphysis. This finding was not influenced by the presence o f a catheter. Correlation coefficients (r) for posterior urethrovesica l angles at rest and during straining measured with and without cathet ers were 0.95 (95% confidence limits 0.92-0.98; P < 0.01) and 0.98 (95 % confidence limits 0.96-0.99; P < 0.01), respectively. The coefficien ts of determination (r2) at rest and during straining were 0.92 and 0. 95, respectively. Sonography with and without cystometry equipment in place gave similar results.