Urethral Profilometry – should it be discarded?

Hanna Szweda; Paweł Szymanowski

doi:10.48269/MandPH-AFMKU-23-2-003

Published: 2023-12-21

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023)

Urethral Profilometry – should it be discarded?

Hanna Szweda

, Paweł Szymanowski

Section: meta-analyses

https://doi.org/10.48269/MandPH-AFMKU-23-2-003

Abstract

Background:
Urethral profilometry was developed as a scientific research method rather than for everyday clini-cal use. However, it was implemented as an integral part of urodynamic diagnostics for clinical use. Although it has been used for over 70 years, there are still no clear guidelines neither for the tech-nique nor for the indications and interpretation of the data obtained in this study. There are many inaccuracies and doubts about the method.

Material and methods:
The authors of the manuscript present a review of the urethral function diagnostics options and the place of urethral profilometry among them. The literature and clinical aspects of the study are dis-cussed in this article. The sources of urethral profilometry's limitations and their importance in clini-cal practice and results interpretation are analyzed.

Results:
Urethral profilometry has many limitations. Their sources are urethral anatomy and structure, equipment, patient collaboration, and examination technique. The repeatability is debatable, but doubts around it seem to be exaggerated. Despite all this, a lot of valuable data can be obtained by performing the examination.

Conclusions:
Despite the limitations, urethral profilometry is a useful clinical tool for functional diagnostics of the urethra. Developing precise guidelines regarding indications, technique, and interpretation of the assessment would be essential to take advantage of this diagnostic method.

Keywords:

urethra , urodynamics , profilometry , urethral , incontinence

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Szweda, Hanna, and Paweł Szymanowski. “Urethral Profilometry – Should It Be Discarded?”. Medicine and Public Health, vol. 1, no. 2, Dec. 2023, pp. 1-11, doi:10.48269/MandPH-AFMKU-23-2-003.

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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023)
Published: 2023-12-21

eISSN: 2956-9443

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