Urodynamic and Rectomanometric Findings in Urinary Incontinence

To investigate the correlation of urinary and fecal incontinence, 52 patients with urinary incontinence underwent cystometry and rectomanometry. Twenty-five patients suffered from stress, 20 from urge and 7 from overflow urinary incontinence. The rectomanometry showed normal results in 29 patients, 5 presented with a compensated and 18 with a partially compensated sphincter incompetence. Whereas 18 of 20 urge incontinent patients had a normal rectal sphincter function, in contrast 16 of 25 stress incontinent patients suffered from rectal sphincter incompetence. In conclusion, there is a marked correlation between stress urinary incontinence and rectal sphincter incompetence. This supports the general thesis that a weakness of the entire pelvic floor is one of the characteristic features of urinary incontinence.