Urodynamic findings in the lower urinary tract: I. Stress‐incontinent vs. ‐continent women

Urodynamic findings in 250 patients with objective stress incontinence were compared with those of 108 controls without abnormalities. Patients with any component of motor-urge incontinence were discarded from the study. The results were as follows: abdominal straining to void was significantly higher in the stress-incontinent group; urethral resistance. maximal urethral closure pressure, and the relative urethral leakage pressure was significantly lower in the stress-incontinent group. In light of the higher incidence of inefficient voiding pallerns seen in the stress-incontinent population, preoperative urodynamic evaluation including cystometry with pressure flow studies, is important to exclude or at least be aware of the possibility of postoperative bladder-emptying problems—apart from the need to exclude underlying motor instability. Relative urethral leakage pressure measurements were significantly lower than maximal urethral closure pressure measurements in stress-incontinent patients. Urethral closure pressure profilometry is recommended in patients who are considered for retropubic urethropexy.