UTERINE AND OVARIAN BLOOD-FLOW MEASUREMENT - DOES THE FULL BLADDER MODIFY THE FLOW RESISTANCE

Doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive technique for investigating arter y blood flow variations. In 39 normoovulatory patients we investigated the correlation between bladder distension and uterine/ovarian blood flow resistance. The patients were scanned transabdominally or transva ginally both with full and emptied bladders. Pulsatility Index was sig nificantly higher in patients with a full bladder than in the same gro up after they had emptied their bladders. The present study showed tha t the full bladder modifying pelvic anatomy and/or increasing sympathe tic tone is responsible of a high blood flow resistance in the uterine artery.