[Ultrasonography of the funneling of the urethra]

The objective of the study was to evaluate possibilities of using contrast substances during transperineal urogenital ultrasound examination.

Prospective, pilot study.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague.

28 women with stress of incontinence were included in the study. For all women, position and mobility of the bladder neck and funneling of urethra was evaluated by transperineal ultrasound examination, and, subsequently, by ultrasound contrast substance examination. Both examinations were compared. During the Valsalva manoeuvre, the contrast substance enters the proximal urethra and allows a more exact diagnosis of urethra funneling than in the case of examination without the use of contrast substance. When using contrast substance, funneling was diagnosed in 25 patients compared to 7 patients subjected to common transperineal examination.

Using contrast substance significantly improves visualisation of urethra funneling and opens new possibilities in diagnosing stress incontinence.