Pre- and postoperative bead chain urethrocystography in female stress urinary incontinence.

The effects of suprapubic Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz (MMK) operation or vaginal Kelly's operation on roentgenographic anatomy of the lower urinary tract were elucidated by means of chain urethrocystography (UCG). A selected series of 30 postoperatively continent and 70 incontinent patients were examined both preoperatively and 3-4 years after operation. Both the urethral inclination (UI) and the posterior urethrovesical (PUV) angle decreased after the operation. The decrease was more marked after successful than unsuccessful operations. The MMK operation reduced the UI and the PUV angle significantly more than did Kelly's operation in both successful and unsuccessful cases. The position of the bladder base or the PUV junction was not altered significantly by either of the operations, whether successful or unsuccessful. The patients with postoperative detrusor instability had roentgen-anatomical findings similar to those of continent patients.