The urethral closure pressure profile. A new technique using gas and simultaneous EMG-recording from the urethra

A new technique for recording of the urethral closure pressure profile using gas-inflation and simultaneous EMG-recording from the urethra is described. With the present technique, the parameters of the urethral closure pressure profile in healthy volunteers were in accordance with previous reports using water-infusion. The effect of alpha-adrenergic blockade on the pressure profile was studied in a series of patients. Half of the patients showed a marked reduction of the intraurethral pressure in the presphincteric part of the profile after alpha-adrenergic blockade. This indicated that sympathetic innervated smooth musculature gives a significant contribution to the total intraurethral pressure.