Journal article

Publication year: 2001

Pages: 193-199

Journal: Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde

Volume number: 61

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0016-5751

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-13778

Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 

Objective: The distance between the symphysis and the bladder neck can be measured by introital sonography. We studied the symphysis-bladder neck distance in women with detrusor instability and stress incontinence and in patients before and after anterior colporrhaphy and Burch colposuspension.

Methods: Introital sonography was performed in 90 women. We measured the vertical distance between the internal urethral meatus and the lower margin of the symphysis (the symphysis-bladder neck distance) at rest and during Valsalva. 23 women were continent, 34 had stress incontinence, 8 had urge incontinence, and 25 were studied before and after anterior colporrhaphy or Burch colposuspension.

Results: The mean distance between the symphysis and the bladder neck was 21 +/- 4 mm at rest and 13 +/- 4 mm during Valsalva in the continent women as compared with 14 +/- 6 mm and -5 +/- 6 mm during Valsalva in stress incontinence (p < 0.001). In most patients with stress incontinence the bladder base descended below the symphysis during strain whereas women with urge incontinence showed little descent (19 +/- 5 mm at rest and 11 +/- 7 mm during strain). Surgery significantly elevated the bladder neck, particularly during Valsalva (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the changes between the operations.

Conclusion: Introital sonography is a simple and noninvasive method to depict the topography of the bladder neck. The distance between the symphysis and the bladder neck is shorter in incontinence than in women with urge in women with stress incontinence and continent controls.

Harvard Citation style: Stein, A. and Künzel, W. (2001) Introital sonography to measure the distance between the symphysis and the bladder neck in patients with incontinence, Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 61(4), pp. 193-199. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-13778

APA Citation style: Stein, A., & Künzel, W. (2001). Introital sonography to measure the distance between the symphysis and the bladder neck in patients with incontinence. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde. 61(4), 193-199. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-13778