Vascularity of Female Urethra in Correlation to Urinary Incontinence : Diagnostic Algorithms and Its Clinical Implications

Introduction: Intrinsic and extrinsic urethral factors play a significant role in urinary continence mechanism in women. Urethral wall structure including inervation, perfusion of submucosal layer etc. is not clinically assessed despite its important role in urethral closure function. The association of incontinence and pelvic floor reconstructive surgery is well known. Every postoperative healing process is associated with factors of ischemia and neovascularisation. According those facts we would expect that the healing and scaring should involve intrinsic urethral mechanism. After reconstructive surgery Implants further increase scaring process. Methods: In our study we included patients with anterior compartment defect. We randomized patients into three interventional arms according the surgical approach and use of implants. Before and 3-5 month after the surgery we performed urodynamic studies and pelvic floor ultrasound examination, including Doppler for urethral perfusion assessment. Another early ultrasound scan was added forth day after surgery. We correlated ultrasound and urodynamic parameters. Results: We randomized 87 patients. We couldn't find any correlation between the morphologic changes and severity of incontinence. Methods for urethral perfusion assessment showed high inaccuracy..