Transabdominal Ultrasound Imaging of Pelvic Floor Muscle Activity in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract Background Several methods are used in assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Transabdominal ultrasound (TAU) is an easy, inexpensive, and non-invasive assessment tool that has been used to evaluate aspects of PFM function. Bladder base displacement, which is detected by TAU, is considered a marker for PFM activity. Objective Detection of the role of transabdominal ultra sound in evaluating pelvic floor muscle activity in women with stress urinary incontinence. Patients and Methods A total of 42 female volunteers (half patients were volunteers from friends, neighbors, colleges and relatives with no stress urinary incontinence, the another half was clinically diagnosed as stress urinary incontinence considering age matching between volunteers and patients with stress urinary incontinence. The medical charts of ultrasound of forty two consecutive females were analyzed. The US examinations were performed using adapted equipment with high-resolution curvilinear transducers. The difference in bladder base displacement (as the dependent variable) between the resting position and the end of each maneuver was measured in millimeters. Three tasks were performed in random order; PFM contraction, Valsalva maneuver, and abdominal curl. Supervisors and experts interpreted the images of the examinations. Results Higher mean values of bladder base decent were reported during Valsalva maneuver, PFM contraction and abdominal curl among cases women with stress urinary incontinence compared with control cases. There was no difference between study groups regarding age, parity and mode of delivery. Conclusion PFM performance is decreased in women with urinary incontinence. Transabdominal ultrasound is safe, accurate, noninvasive and safe tool in evaluating pelvic floor muscle activity in women with stress urinary incontinence.