Clinical Outcomes of Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disorder that is characterized by the hyperplasia of the cellular elements of the prostate, leading to an enlarged prostate. One of the parameters affecting urinary outflow is intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). It is a phenomenon wherein the enlargement of the prostate protrudes into the bladder along the plane of least resistance. This condition can lead to various clinical effects, including symptoms such as the feeling of incomplete void and weak, interrupted urine stream. Hence, investigating the potential associations between different grades of IPP and clinical urological outcomes holds crucial implications for optimizing patient care, refining risk stratification, and enhancing treatment approaches. Methodology We examined patients who were following up at the urology outpatient clinics due to BPH between June 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. All patients included in this study were required to undergo a transabdominal prostate ultrasound. Patient records were reviewed for various factors, including demographic stratification, the presence of urine routine or culture with evidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) within the past two years, and whether patients were scheduled for surgical intervention. The radiological parameters were recorded by viewing the midsagittal and transverse ultrasound images retrospectively by two specialist radiology physicians. The parameters measured included IPP Grade, prostate volume (PV), presence of bladder stones, anatomical abnormalities (such as bladder diverticulum), and post-void volume. Results The total sample size was 184 patients. Out of these, 53 (28.8%) had IPP Grade I, 72 (39.1%) were classified as Grade II, 42 (22.8%) had Grade III, and 17 (9.2%) were categorized as Grade IV. The data collected also showed that 12 (6.5%) patients had bladder stones on ultrasound examination. Additionally, 17 (9.2%) patients had bladder diverticulum. Furthermore, when controlled for age and PV, multivariate analysis using logistic regression models to calculate the odds ratio (OR) showed that increasing IPP Grade is associated with an increased risk of developing UTIs, acute urinary retention, and the need for surgical intervention. The highest risk group of patients is IPP Grade IV, with odds ratios (ORs) of 6.8, 7.2, and 6.4 for developing UTIs, experiencing acute urinary retention, and requiring surgical intervention, respectively. Conclusions The results provide compelling evidence of the adverse relationships between higher grades of IPP and worsening urological outcomes and patient morbidity. Hence, we recommend further studies be conducted on the clinical effects of IPP and that these measurements should be considered as part of routine ultrasound prostate imaging to aid in the management of BPH cases.