Valsalva leak point pressure: steps toward standardization

Abstract

Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) has been used as the urodynamic indicator of intrinsic sphincteric deficiency in patients with stress urinary incontinence. However, further validation of VLPP as a tool for diagnosis and assessment of treatment outcome has been delayed mainly because of the lack of a universally accepted standardized methodology. The urodynamic parameters in need of standardization for measurement of VLPP include urethral catheter size, zeroing of the transducer, patient position, bladder volume, type of stress, and timing of measurement. Such standardization likely will allow for further validation of VLPP and its use in distinguishing the right treatment options for the correction of stress urinary incontinence.