Results of Pressure-Flow Studies in Adult Male Patients without Voiding Symptom

Ha, Hyug soo; Park, Choal Hee; Kim, Chun Il

Abstract

PURPOSE: The pressure-flow study is only objective study that can determine the presence or absence of bladder outlet obstruction and impaired detrusor contractility. Although many results of pressure-flow study are reported in diseased state such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, but are rarely evaluated in adult male patients without voiding symptoms as control group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the findings of pressure-flow study in asymptomatic male patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three male patients without voiding symptom were recruited for this study. Mean age of these patients was 49.8 years(range 21-70). Mean AUA symptom score was 1.1(range 0-4) and mean prostatic volume was 27.3gm(range 20-35) on digital rectal examination. The study was done by using 7 Fr. urethral catheter on sitting or standing position. RESULTS: Mean values were followed; PdetQmax was 48.1cmH2O(range 25-94), Qmax was 15.7ml/sec(range 3-23), and postvoid residual urine was 14.5ml(range 0-80). According to the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram, 8 were unobstructed and 4 were obstructed, the remaining 11 falling in the equivocal zone. In each types, mean group specific urethral resistance factor (URA) was 12.8cmH2O in unobstructive type, 51.5 in obstructive type, and 22.1 in equivocal type. CONCLUSIONS: The results were maybe guessed as following; First, the values of defining obstrucion were set too low. Second, obstruction was less relevance in the development of symptoms than had been suggested previosly by some observers. Therefore, we thought that interpretations of pressure-flow finding were carefully considered to method of test, and/or uncomfortable voiding.