Urethral sleeve sensor: a non-withdrawal method to measure maximum urethral pressure.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study seeks to evaluate axial variation, comparisons with current technology, performance during dynamic conditions, and patient tolerability of the urethral sleeve sensor (USS) for maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) measurements.

METHODS

Eighteen continent and seven stress incontinent women underwent assessments with USS and urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) in random order. Intravesical (p (ves)) and urethral (p (ura)) pressure signals were collected and urethral closure pressure (p (clo)) was calculated. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate subject discomfort.

RESULTS

The correlation coefficient between MUCP obtained by UPP and USS techniques was 0.86 (p < 0.001). Higher USS pressures were obtained with catheter oriented to 12 o'clock. Continent subjects demonstrated higher values of p (clo). MUCP became <0 cm H(2)O in subjects with clinical leakage during Valsalva, but not in continent subjects. Subjects tolerated the USS technique better than the UPP technique on VAS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

USS technology can be used to evaluate the urethra in both static and dynamic conditions and is better tolerated than withdrawal techniques.