Urethral pressure variations.

The pressure in the area of distal urethral sphincter was measured in 30 patients with symptoms of stress, urge, and mixed stress and urge incontinence. Sphincteric pressures were obtained from 3 to 4 urethral pressure profiles and recordings of the pressure measured with the sensor placed at the site of the distal sphincter for periods of up to ten minutes. In 33 per cent of the patients, the latter method revealed significant pressure variations which rarely were seen in a small series of urethral pressure profiles. The diagnostic reliability of the urethral pressure profile with respect to pressure variations is discussed, and the spatial organization of the pressure variations is measured and discussed.