[Interest of urodynamic exploration in the women with prolapsus]

In a retrospective study of 54 cases of prolapse in the menopausal woman the authors noted problems of urinary continence, in particular stress incontinence and incontinence due to bladder instability, in 40 p. cent of these women. Unfortunately, the clinical diagnosis is often misleading, and is in 65 p. cent of the cases later rectified by urodynamic investigation. Serious therapeutic errors, such as operating a bladder instability mistaken for stress incontinence, or neglecting a potential stress incontinence that could have been easily corrected at the same time as the prolapse operation, can thereby be avoide. In conclusion, the authors stress that an urodynamic exploration, including cystometry and sphincterometry, is absolutely necessary in the regular work-up of the menopausal women with prolapse.