Urethral denervation supersensitivity to noradrenaline after radical hysterectomy

Urethral closure pressure profiles were registered before and during intravenous infusion of noradrenaline in 7 female patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy, and in whom a bladder denervation supersensitivity test to carbachol previously had been positive. Patients who had a completely denervated bladder had a greater rise in maximum urethral pressure during noradrenaline infusion (exceeding 20 cm H2O) than normal subjects (1 to 15 cm H2O). Urethral supersensitivity to noradrenaline may be a promising test in diagnosing damage of the sympathetic nervous innervation of the lower urinary tract.