Urethral pressure reflectometry; a novel technique for simultaneous recording of pressure and cross‐sectional area in the female urethra

Abstract

UPR is feasible for measuring urethral pressure and corresponding CA. The technique is minimally invasive and with minimal impact on the urethra per se. The technique provides physiological sound parameters which add potentially important physiological/pathophysiological information about the urethra to what can be obtained on the basis of conventional urodynamic work-up. Further studies are needed to prove if this new method is useful for clinical and research purposes.

Urethral pressure reflectometry and pressure profilometry in healthy volunteers and stress urinary incontinent women

“…Colstrup and Lose measured with relatively thick and stiff catheters at unphysiological cross-sectional areas. 3 The SUI women had significantly decreased elastances compared to the group of healthy women. The same tendency was found by Lose.…”

“…Two vertical dotted lines cut off the very first and the very last artifactual parts of the traces, leaving the second part of the traces which describes the high pressure zone of the urethra. 3 The six parameters (opening and closing pressure, opening and closing elastance, hysteresis absolute and hysteresis percent ) are shown and defined in Figure 2. The six parameters were measured both when the patient was supine relaxed and erect relaxed.…”

“…The UPR pressure measurements do not have any movement artifact or artifact due to the height difference between transducer and the urethra which are artifacts seen with the UPP. 3,9,11,12 Supine resting. The urethral opening pressure was significantly decreased in the SUI women compared to the volunteers, the same tendency was found for MUP and MUCP.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Urethral pressure reflectometry (UPR) is a novel technique for simultaneous measurements of pressure and CA in the female urethra. 3 The technique only involves the insertion of a very thin plastic bag. Thus pressure at CA close to zero can be measured in the urethra.…”

Intrinsic sphincter deficiency: what is it and does it matter anymore?

“…In the recent TOMUS trial the investigators could not identify at what point subjects undergoing a TOT or TVT were at greatest risk of failure, but instead noted that as the ability of the urethral sphincter to generate a closing pressure, or force, declined, the risk of failure (with either a TVT or TOT) increased. In other work, the distensibility of the urethra to stretch and not its ability to generate a closure pressure is being evaluated as a measure of its functionality [9,10]. This work-while somewhat helpful in counseling patients about the risk of success or failure-will undoubtedly stimulate further research into alternative therapies.…”