Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze whether transabdominal and introital ultrasono- graphy can accurately identify paravaginal defect associated with GSI (Genuine stress urinary incontinence) and to determine the changes after paravaginal defect repair. Design: Prospective randomised clinical study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. Methods: Sixteen women with GSI, who had previously not undergone anti - incontinence surgery were involved. Their average age was 52 years, average weight 71 kg and average parity 2.0. Within vaginal examination our attention was focussed on the diminution of sulsus superioris vaginae during Valsalva maneuver. The bladder of a patient in supine position was filled with 300 ml of sterile saline. Than a 5 MHz curved array probe was used to assess the bladder neck mobility from the perineal approach, and the same probe was used from the abdominal approach to determine paravaginal defect and subsequently a vaginal probe from introital approach was used for the rest of the examination. After Burch colposuspension and paravaginal defect repair US scanning was performed 6 till 8 days and 5 or 6 weeks after operation. Results: We found significant differences in bladder neck position and mobility before and after the operation. In women with symptoms of GSI we found from abdominal approach unilateral or bilateral paravaginal defect in fifteen women. Unilateral defect was found on the right side six times and on the left side only once. In eight women the defect was bilateral. The introital approach obtained similar results, only in two patients with bilateral defect the examination concluded unilateral right defect. After the operation we did not find PVD in patients after paravaginal defect repair. We obtained worse results from vaginal examination, where preopera- tively PVD was correctly determined (sensitivity) only in 82.6%. Conclusion: From our preliminary results we can suggest performing US scanning to conform paravaginal defect before anti - incontinence surgery and possibly adding to the Burch colposus- pension paravaginal defect repair to correct cystourethrocele.

        Key words: female urinary incontinence, ultrasonography, paravaginal defect