Relation between volume of residual urine and urodynamic findings in women with cystourethrocele.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between post-voiding residual urine (PVR) and urodynamic findings, voiding patterns, and the degree of prolapse in women with cystourethrocele.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: According to the average PVR value measured by means of catheterization after three separate and spontaneous micturitions, 73 women with minimal urethral hypermobility (n = 8) or colpocystocele (n = 65) were subdivided into 3 groups: group 1 = patients with a PVR of < or =50 ml; group 2 = patients with a PVR of >50 ml and < or =150 ml, and group 3 = patients with a PVR of >150 ml and < or =500 ml. The patients underwent a thorough physical examination, and prolapse was evaluated and graded. The women then underwent a complete urodynamic investigation. The 3 groups of patients were statistically correlated according to the urodynamic findings, voiding patterns and degree of prolapse.

RESULTS: A large PVR in women with cystourethrocele was often associated with poor maximum flow rate, intermittent flow and with the highest degree of prolapse.

CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that uroflowmetry is a very simple, noninvasive, but also essential method of investigation in evaluating female patients with cystourethrocele, particularly when a large PVR is suspected.