Lateral bead-chain urethrocystography after successful and unsuccessful colposuspension

Twenty-seven patients were studied after colposuspension with lateral bead-chain urethrocystography. Successful operation, compared with unsuccessful operation, repositioned the bladder neck significantly closer to the posterosuperior surface of the symphysis pubis, though not significantly higher. After successful colposuspension, the proximal urethra is exposed to compression against the symphysis pubis by the momentary descent of the pelvic viscera during physical effort. Failure of the colposuspension was usually due to an inadequate repositioning of the bladder neck.