[Characteristics of urinary continence mechanisms of the lower urinary tract in late pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of the urinary continence mechanisms of the lower urinary tract in late pregnant women.

METHODS

A total of 47 volunteer women without urinary leakage in late pregnancy were selected as the study group. Twenty-seven non-pregnant women with normal lower urinary tract function were included in control group. Urodynamic studies were performed on all women.

RESULTS

The maximum flow rate [(20 +/- 13), (32 +/- 7) ml/s; P < 0.05], the voided volume and the normal desire cyst volume [(163 +/- 13), (226 +/- 85) ml vs (436 +/- 19), (338 +/- 56) ml; P < 0.05] of the late pregnant group and control group were different significantly; residual urine which was less than 10 ml was found in seven pregnant women. Compared with the control group, the maximum urethral pressure, the maximum urethral closure pressure and the functional urethral length of the study group were increased obviously (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The sufficient increase of the static urethral pressure profile in late pregnancy could compensate for the progressive increase in bladder pressure during pregnancy, which is beneficial to maintain the urinary continence mechanisms in pregnancy.