The Role of Disturbed Pressure Gradients in Recurrent Urinary Infection

SUMMARY Using a special twin–channel catheter, bladder and urethral pressures have been recorded in three normal patients and in 46 patients with recurrent urinary infection. A majority of the patients showed a disturbance of the pressure gradient as between bladder and urethra and this upset may produce a functional situation resembling a concealed bladder–neck stenosis. More work is needed to show whether surgery might benefit such patients. This work was made possible by a generous grant (ACMR 507 E–62) from the Secretary of State for Scotland for the necessary equipment and for part–time technical help. Mr Roy Drummond, Mr D. Hardy, Mr W. Kay and Miss Jane Tapley have given invaluable technical help in building parts of the apparatus and in its running and maintenance. The London Rubber Company Limited kindly supplied through Mr R. W. Larkin, their Laboratory Manager, the fine latex sleeves for the urethral balloon.