[Unstable stress profile--artefact or physiologic phenomenon?]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Female Pelvic Medicine

Context:

• Urethral closure pressure is crucial for continence.
• Stress urinary profiles (SUPs) assess urethral function during physical stress.

Purpose:

• To investigate the relationship between urethral dislocation and stress urinary profile (SUP) stability.
• To determine the prevalence and significance of urethral dislocation in SUP assessments.

Summary:

• In women with stable resting urethral closure pressure, SUPs were often unstable due to urethral dislocation (1-8 mm) during stress.
• Of 14 women with stable SUPs, 10 had no dislocation, and 4 had minor dislocation (≤2 mm).
• Retrospective analysis showed urethral dislocation in 35.1% (40/114) of patients.

Impact:

• SUPs exhibiting signs of urethral dislocation require cautious interpretation.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering urethral mobility in evaluating urinary continence.
• This research may inform diagnostic criteria and improve the accuracy of SUP assessments.