Urodynamics of female urinary incontinence with emphasis on stress incontinence

More than 500 female patients with urinary incontinence were studied in our urodynamic laboratory by simultaneous recordings of urethral pressure at 2 levels, bladder pressure, intra-abdominal pressure, and by uroflowmetry and cine-fluoroscopy. Urethral pressure profile under basal conditions was compared to that in patients with a full bladder, under the stress of sharp or sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure, voluntary perineal muscle activity and patient's position. From these studies stress and urge incontinence, and neurogenic varieties (or a combination of several types) could be differentiated. The clinical application of our findings will be discussed.