Urodynamics: continuous monitoring.

Continuous ambulatory monitoring of intravesical and intraurethral pressures was done in 26 patients using a portable tape recorder, a specially designed urethral catheter and pressure sensitive catheter tip transducers. With this technique we overcame some of the difficulties encountered with previously described recording systems for monitoring intravesical and intraurethral pressures on a continuous basis. Pressure changes in the urethra and bladder were recorded in response to various resting and stressful situations, with the patient in a natural environment and with freedom of activities of daily living. A correlation was established between the symptoms and the results of continuous monitoring, at the same time unmasking the discrepancies between the results of cystometry and the urinary complaints of the patient.