Clinical value of uroflowmentry in selected cases of bladder outlet obstruction

Fifteen patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), 42 urethral stricture patients, and 34 controls were included in this study to describe outflowmetry findings at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Abeba from April to August 2000. Normal values for maximum and average urine flow rates were determined Uroflowmetry findings in BPH and urethral stricture were compared with normal subjects. The average age for BPH, urethral stricture, and controls were 63.3 (SD +/- 10.3), 38.4 (SD +/- 12.4), and 28.5 (SD +/- 7.9) respectively. The mean maximum flow rates for normal subjects was 22.7 ml/sec (range 15 to 42 ml/sec) and mean average flow rates 14.7 ml/sec (range 9 to 25 ml/sec). Mean maximum flow rate for BPH and Urethral Stricture were 11.5 (SD +/- 8.2) and 8.7 (SD +/- 6.5) ml/sec respectively. For urethral stricture maximum flow rate had sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 85% respectively. For BPH sensitivity was 100% and specificity 80%. Normal values are set for the study population. Uroflowmetry has high sensitivity and specificity. It can widely be used in routine-evaluation of BPH and urethral stricture patients.