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Assessment of prostatic obstruction: A cuff may be enough
Michael J Drinnan1, Robert S Pickard, Peter D Ramsden
1Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Neurourology and Urodynamics
|December 13, 2002
Summary
A novel penile cuff method accurately measures bladder pressure during voiding. This technique aids in diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms in men.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect a large number of men.
- Accurate diagnosis of LUTS often requires invasive pressure measurements.
- Noninvasive methods for assessing bladder pressure during voiding are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of an inflatable penile cuff for noninvasively measuring bladder pressure during voiding.
- To explore the relationship between penile cuff pressure and flow rate.
Main Methods:
- A physical model simulating the bladder and urethra was developed.
- The model incorporated adjustable pressure cuffs to mimic the prostatic and penile urethra.
- Flow rate was measured against progressive increases in penile cuff pressure.
Main Results:
- The physical model successfully reproduced typical pressure/flow curves observed during voiding.
- Penile cuff inflation in normal and obstructed men yielded similar pressure/flow relationships.
Conclusions:
- The penile cuff inflation method shows potential for deducing bladder pressure during voiding.
- This technique may also estimate prostatic opening pressure and urethral diameter.
- These noninvasive measurements could improve LUTS diagnosis and patient care.