[Prostatism syndrome in external consultation in urology. Incidence at a regional hospital].

Dysuria coexisting with frequency and urgency in a 60-year-old male is readily ascribed to the prostate, and the morbid state which results from urethral obstruction is diagnosed as prostatism. This common syndrome, however, is not always due to prostatic disease. The present study analyzed the underlying cause of the cases of prostatic syndrome that had been seen in the Urology services of a hospital during 1991. A total of 3854 patients had consulted. Of these, 1214 had consulted for the first time and the remaining 2640 had consulted for the second time. Prostatic syndrome was the reason for consultation in 260 (21%) of those who had consulted for the first time, accounting for 10% of the second consultations and 7% overall. We looked at patient age, the area of health they pertained to, whether they had been referred by the GP or the doctor attending the emergency services, and if rectal examination had been performed. Previous work-up, previous treatment, treatment requested by the referring doctor micturition pattern, diagnostic methods, differential diagnosis and the recommended treatment were also analyzed. We can conclude that the incidence of this pathology is high and has a tendency to increase; the approach in primary care needs to be improved; little importance is given to rectal examination and drug therapy affords excellent control of the syndrome.