CHANGES IN BLADDER FUNCTION FOLLOWING A SURGICAL ALTERATION IN OUTFLOW RESISTANCE

The changes in bladder function occurring after a surgical alteration in bladder outflow resistance were studied in 20 males undergoing transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) and in 20 females undergoing an endoscopic bladder neck suspension (EBNS). Serial cystometrograms (CMG) were performed before operation, and on alternate days after spontaneous micturition was re‐established, for 5 days in the males and for 21 days in the females. CMGs were repeated at 3 months and 1 year after operation. After TURP voiding pressures (Pdet) fell rapidly from a mean of 118 cm H2O before operation to 57 cm H2O at 5 days, with an increase in flow rate during this time from 10.5 ml/s to 24 ml/s. Detrusor instability that had been present in 14 patients resolved within 2 days in 12. There was no further significant urodynamic change over the 1‐year study period. After EBNS, there was an early rise in voiding pressure (Pdet rose from 26 cm H2O before operation to 42 cm H2O at 3 days). This continued to increase up to 21 days particularly in those patients with initial large residuals. Three patients developed detrusor instability. Flow rates were greatly reduced at first (27 ml/s before operation and 13 ml/s at 3 days), and gradually increased in line with voiding pressures, yet were still diminished 1 year after operation. The urodynamic changes following a reduction in bladder outflow resistance by TURP are immediate and sustained and unlikely to be the result of structural changes within the bladder wall. EBNS produces an increase in outflow resistance and it can be several weeks before balanced voiding is achieved, with significantly increased detrusor pressures needed to achieve complete bladder emptying at a reduced flow rate. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company