Klaus M.-E. Jensen

Analysis of Presenting Symptoms in Prostatism

A prospective evaluation was done of 84 patients who were selected for transurethral prostatectomy based on the presenting symptoms and findings at cystoscopy. In addition, urodynamic studies were performed but the results were not made available to the urologist who selected the patients for surgery. Postoperative symptom analysis and repeat urodynamic examinations were done at 3 months in 68 patients and at 12 months in 50. There was no significant association between irritative symptoms and uninhibited detrusor contractions. Furthermore, no associations were identified between obstructive symptoms and infravesical obstruction as defined by urodynamic criteria. The study failed to identify a need for routine invasive urodynamic investigation of patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Significance of Prostatic Weight in Prostatism

In addition to routine evaluation, 68 patients with prostatism underwent blinded urodynamic testing prior to transurethral prostatectomy and were reexamined symptomatologically and urodynamically at 3 and 12 months after surgery to determine if prostatic weight could predict postoperative outcome. Resected prostatic weight correlated with estimated weight at cystoscopy and with obstructive symptoms, but not with urodynamic variables of infravesical obstruction. Patients with small prostates improved symptomatologically to the same degree as patients with larger glands, although they did not improve to the same degree urodynamically. Prostatic weight, therefore, could not be used to predict the outcome of transurethral surgery.

The Relevance of Minimum Urethral Resistance in Prostatism

To determine whether the minimum urethral resistance was useful to identify bladder outlet obstruction in prostatectomy candidates, 46 patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate were evaluated by means of detailed symptom analysis, cystoscopy, rectal examination and post-void residual urine determination. In addition, each patient underwent extensive urodynamic testing, the results of which were not made available to the operating urologist as patients were selected for surgery. This prospective, blind evaluation has been completed in 33 and 15 patients 3 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. A correlation is noted between the minimum urethral resistance, and symptomatology and uroflowmetry but no correlation was identified with prostatic length and the resected prostatic weight. The minimum urethral resistance was not useful in predicting which patients would benefit from transurethral resection of the prostate. It is concluded that symptom analysis generally is a better predictor of the outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate than is minimum urethral resistance.

Urodynamic findings in elderly males without prostatic complaints

Previous evaluations of urodynamic testing in patients with prostatism have been impeded because of a lack of age-matched controls. In this study, 13 asymptomatic male volunteers, ages fifty-two to seventy years, underwent urodynamic testing which included uroflowmetry, water cystometry, and pressure flow study. Comparison of these data to those obtained with patients with prostatism revealed several important differences including maximum flow rate and minimum urethral resistance.

The Significance of Uninhibited Detrusor Contractions in Prostatism

In an attempt to identify preoperatively patients who will not benefit from prostatectomy, 84 patients with prostatism about to undergo transurethral resection of the prostate were evaluated prospectively with preoperative and postoperative symptom analysis and urodynamic examination, including cystometrograms. Of the patients 67 were followed at 3 months and 54 again at 12 months. Preoperatively, 65 per cent of the patients had uninhibited detrusor contractions, while 38 had persistent postoperative uninhibited detrusor contractions at 3 months. Patients in whom uninhibited detrusor contractions persisted postoperatively more often had unacceptable postoperative symptoms. Of the patients 13 per cent believed the symptoms to be the same or worse at 3 and 12 months. The incidence of uninhibited detrusor contractions in these patients was 57 and 71 per cent, respectively. While this finding suggests that persistent postoperative uninhibited detrusor contractions are associated with an unfavorable surgical outcome, we could not predict which patients would have uninhibited detrusor contractions following prostatectomy by use of preoperative cystometric findings together with detailed symptom analysis. Thus, we failed to define a role for preoperative cystometric screening of patients with prostatism.

Transurethral prostatic resection in the treatment of prostatism with high urinary flow.

There were 51 patients with prostatism who were selected for transurethral resection of the prostate using clinical nonurodynamic criteria. Urodynamic evaluation revealed that 13 patients had preoperative maximum urine flow rates greater than 15 ml. per second. The favorable postoperative outcome in clinical and urodynamic terms in this group of patients with high preoperative urine flow is discussed.

Predictive value of low maximum flow rate in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Among 84 patients with prostatism selected for transurethral resection of the prostate, 18 had a maximum flow at spontaneous uroflowmetry less than or equal to 7 ml/sec. Preoperatively there was no significant difference between patients with maximum flow less than or equal to 7 ml/sec (Group 1) and patients with maximum flow greater than 7 ml/sec (Group 2) in age, duration of symptoms, symptom scores, bladder volume, residual urine, and detrusor pressure at maximum flow. Patients in Group 1, however, had significantly lower urethral resistance and bladder volume independent maximum flow than patients in Group 2. Postoperatively, patients with preoperative maximum flow less than or equal to 7 ml/sec improved significantly in symptom scores and urodynamic findings apart from bladder volume and detrusor pressure at maximum flow. There were no significant differences between groups in postoperative symptom scores or urodynamic findings. We conclude that preoperative maximum flow rates less than or equal to 7 ml/sec at spontaneous uroflowmetry were related to high urethral resistance and not detrusor decompensation among patients with prostatism, and that patients with maximum flow rates less than or equal to 7 ml/sec fared as well postoperatively as patients with maximum flow greater than 7 ml/sec.

Abdominal Straining in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

We evaluated 46 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for abdominal straining associated with voiding. All patients were evaluated preoperatively by means of detailed symptom analysis, excretory urography, cystoscopy and urodynamic studies, including spontaneous uroflowmetry, medium fill water cystometry and pressure flow study. Of the patients 72 per cent strained preoperatively and the majority continued to strain 3 and 12 months postoperatively. No correlation was identified between straining and urodynamic or symptomatologic indicators of bladder outlet obstruction. Patients who strained and those who did not strain experienced neither subjective nor objective differences postoperatively. A positive correlation between straining and age was identified. We speculate that straining might be based on individual habits and that the tendency to strain increases with advancing age.

Seminal vesicle tissue in “resectate” of transurethral resection of prostate☆

We reviewed the histologic specimens from 123 consecutive patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate to determine the presence of seminal vesicle tissue. Additionally, relevant patient data were collected from the records, and a questionnaire regarding pre- and postoperative sexual function was given. The incidence of seminal vesicle tissue in the resectate was 23 per cent. No significant morbidity such as acute epididymitis or impairment of sexual function was associated with the occurrence of seminal vesicle tissue in the specimens. Consequently, no prophylactic measures seem indicated in patients undergoing partial resection of the seminal vesicles in connection with transurethral resection of the prostate.

Candicidin in Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study, candicidin (a polyene macrolide) was investigated in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Seventy-six patients were included in the study--34 in the candicidin group and 42 in the placebo group. Patients treated with 270 mg. of candicidin daily for 6 months had a significant decrease in residual urine, voided volume and bladder volume. No significant increases were found in flow rates. Symptoms improved significantly in both the candicidin and the placebo group, but no differences in improvement were found between the groups. The results of candicidin treatment are less satisfactory than those following surgery.