Objectives: To determine whether preoperative urodynamic parameters can predict the outcome in men in urinary retention and aid in counseling these men.
Methods: Forty men in urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent photoselective laser vaporization prostatectomy (PVP). Preoperative urodynamic studies were used to identify the men with detrusor overactivity (DO) and impaired detrusor contractility (IDC). The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal flow rate, and postvoid residual urine volume were collected at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after PVP.
Results: Of the 40 men, 8 (20%) had IDC and 30 had DO (75%) preoperatively. The men without preoperative DO had a significantly lower IPSS than those with preoperative DO at 1 month of follow-up. Men without preoperative IDC had a significantly lower IPSS and postvoid residual urine volume at the same point compared with men with preoperative IDC. The flow rate in men with preoperative IDC 1 and 6 months postoperatively was significantly lower than in men without preoperative IDC.
Conclusions: Preoperative urodynamic parameters predict for outcome in men in urinary retention undergoing PVP. Men in urinary retention benefit from PVP with an improvement in both subjective and objective voiding function, regardless of the presence of DO or IDC. Postoperatively, patients with DO have more voiding symptoms than those without DO, and are almost twice as likely to require anticholinergics. Men without IDC have better IPSS, flow rates, and postvoid residual urine volumes compared with men with IDC. Of the 8 men with IDC, 3 required reoperation within the first year.