Perineal Color Doppler Ultrasound of periurethral vascularization in women affected by urinary stress incontinence

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the vascular parameters of the urethra through an ultrasound assessment using the trans-labial convex probe (Voluson E8 GE) in women affected by stress incontinence and compare them with women who do not have the disorder.
METHODS: Patients with USI recruited for the group of cases were 12, and the women not affected by USI were 12. The study compares patients with a disease (cases) with patients who do not have the disease (controls). The design of the study is a controlled case-control observational trial. Thus, the data gathered were the resistance index (RI) and the color score of the studied area to quantify the degree of vascularization. The semi-quantitative parameter identified through the power doppler was the resistance index (RI). The qualitative parameter was the color score of the studied area, obtained through the color doppler assessment; these data were used to quantify each patient's vascularization degree.
RESULTS: The ANOVA test showed a significant difference between the RI values in group 0 (NO USI) and group 1 (USI). The ROC curve analysis was used, demonstrating that the diagnostic test is adequate and has a high discriminating value for identifying the true positives and the true negatives.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Doppler, therefore, is an important instrument that helps diagnose the more common vascular disorders in climacteric and menopause.