Has the suprapubic suspension operation any influence on the urethral pressure profile?

The urethral pressure profiles of 35 patients suffering from stress incontinence before and after suprapubic suspension operations have been analysed. Irrespective of the post-operative result there were no significant changes in the various characteristics of the pressure profile. The results suggest that a suspension operation for stress incontinence has no direct effect on the sphincteric urethral mechanism but places the urethra in a higher position where it can be affected by increases in intra-abdominal pressure.