Sonographic transvaginal bladder wall thickness: does the measurement discriminate between urodynamic diagnoses?

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Urodynamics

Background:

• Transvaginal ultrasound measurement of bladder wall thickness (BWT) can differentiate between detrusor overactivity (DO) and urodynamic stress incontinence.
• The current study aimed to validate this correlation in a broader female population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if vaginally measured BWT correlates with urodynamic diagnoses in women with lower urinary symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 123 adult female patients undergoing urogynaecologic investigation were included.
• Multichannel urodynamics and transvaginal ultrasound of the bladder were performed on patients with an emptied bladder.

Main Results:

• Bladder wall thickness (BWT) was significantly higher in patients with DO and obstruction compared to those with urodynamic stress incontinence.
• Detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (pdet/Qmax) showed a significant positive correlation with BWT.

Conclusions:

• Bladder wall thickness (BWT) positively correlates with detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (pdet/Qmax).
• BWT is a valuable parameter for urodynamic diagnoses including stress incontinence, DO, and obstruction.