[Functional evaluation of the internal urethral sphincter in transrectal USG]

One of urodynamic diagnostic methods is visualisation of the bladder neck opening which enables seeing the difference between internal and external urethral sphincter disfunction. Micturition video cysto-urethrography with X-rays makes possible to carry on such examinations, but it requires catheterisation which makes the method invasive. My purpose is to replace this examination by dynamic functional evaluation of the internal urethral sphincter during transrectal ultrasonography. During 10 routine transrectal ultrasound examinations of the prostate, patients were asked to urinate. During examination changes in configuration of the bladder neck and prostatic urethra were observed. Two patients could not urinate in horizontal position. In the rest of the patients very clear pictures showing changes in the shape and dimensions of the urethra during urination, were achieved. They were much more clear in comparison with X-ray video cystourethrography. Transrectal sonography is a perfect technique of the visualisation of the bladder neck and prostatic urethra during urination. The suggested method should be included into the urodynamic examinations.