Some problems of cystometry

ABSTRACT

Cystometry is performed to evaluate deranged bladder function. In paraplegics the results are not always consistent with their clinical progress, nor have the results of treatment based on such tests always been satisfactory. The methods used involve a catheter in the urethra connected to a water manometer or a pressure recording device (Band 1956). At the same time filling of the bladder is artificially carried out by running in saline through the same catheter. This introduces several possible errors, and to avoid some of these, Comarr has used the normal excretion of the kidneys to fill the bladder (Comarr 1959) whilst von Garrelts uses a fine polythene tube in the urethra, instead of a catheter (von Garrelts 1956). Preliminary experiments have been made to record the pressure changes via a suprapubic polythene tube, avoiding a urethral catheter altogether. In this way a record of detrusor function unaffected by abnormal reflexes initiated at the level of the sphincters can be obtained (AU)