Bladder wall tension in benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Two hundred forty-three synchronous urinary flow and intravesical pressure recordings were carried out on 51 men all of whom were over 50 years of age. They consisted of 12 normal subjects and 39 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy in various stages of bladder outlet obstruction. Bladder wall tension was determined from each pressure and flow recording. Bladder wall tension at the commencement of micturition was found to be of value for the diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction attributable to benign prostatic hypertrophy. A technique for direct recording of bladder wall tension is desirable.