Perineal color doppler ultrasound of periurethral vascularization in women affected by urinary stress incontinence

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. 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. 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. The Doppler, therefore, is an important instrument that helps diagnose the more common vascular disorders in climacteric and menopause.