ULTRASONOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF FEMALE URINARY STRESS-INCONTINENCE

Aim The study compared ultrasound parameters of the lower urinary tract with patients' age, number of previous pregnancies as well as the grade of incontinence. Furthermore, the influence of postural changes was studied. Method Ultrasonographic examination of the vaginal introitus was performed on 222 patients using a 5 MHz scanner. The transducer was inserted along the body axis and a vertical plane was defined. Results Urinary stress incontinence was found to be associated with the occurrence of cystoceles, the finding of a funnel-like opening of the proximal urethra, an increased retro-vesical angle beta, and finally with a descent of the bladder neck. However, there was no significant correlation between urethral length and the grade of stress incontinence. In patients without urinary incontinence, the retrovesical angle as well as the position of the bladder neck were strongly related to parity but did not correlate with the patients' age. There was no significant difference between parameters when the patients were straining in a prone or half-prone position. Conclusion Sonomorphological pelvic floor disorder is based on previous pregnancies and correlates well with urinary stress incontinence.