Detrusor and urethral dysfunction in prostatic hypertrophy.

Assessment of bladder and urethral function in 9 patients with prostatic hypertrophy before and after transurethral resection of the prostate was performed utilising gas cystometry, detrusor reflex activating procedures, combined electromyographic and gas urethral pressure profilometry and uroflowmetry. A high incidence of detrusor hyperreflexia was found preoperatively indicating neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder. Removal of the obstructive tissue implied a change in detrusor reflex function in a part of the patients confirming the findings from a larger series studied with watercytsometry. Decompression or injury of sensory nerve endings in the prostatic urethra thus seem to determine detrusor function after surgery to the prostate. The impact of the resection upon urethral function was an increase in maximum urinary flow due to a significant shortening of the functional urethral length. No change in maximum urethral intramural pressure could be demonstrated.