Disease / Male LUTS & BPH

Treatments Available

Approach to the Management of LUTS

In this section, we will discuss the types of urinary symptoms that include Storage, Voiding and Post-micturition symptoms. Then we will see how we could start the conservative management from the symptoms and basic investigative tools like International prostate Symptom score (IPSS) and Bladder diary.

Then briefly discuss the indications for further treatment escalation and referral to secondary care.

Finally, we will see what kind of invasive treatment options available and expected improvement in different clinical scenarios.

Types of Urinary Symptoms

Lower Urinary symptoms are primarily caused by the failure of the storage and voiding function of the bladder. The non-urological conditions that cause polyuria can also cause some of the urinary symptoms like urinary frequency.

The disturbances to the storage function of the bladder causes frequency both during day time and night time (Nocturia), urgency and incontinence.

When the voiding function of the bladder is impaired by obstructive conditions or bladder under-activity, they cause voiding symptoms. These are hesitancy, poor flow, intermittency, terminal dribbling and need to strain.

The usual post micturition symptoms include, Post-micturition dribbling and feeling of inadequate emptying.

Clinical Assessment & Investigations

Objectives of Clinical Assessment

Identification of Red-flags. Refer immediately if any of these identified:

• Haematuria
• Palpable Bladder
• Painful Bladder
• Mass, suspected malignancy
• Significant Complications of BPH

Clinical Assessment & Investigations

• Abdominal & Digital Rectal examination
• MSU dipstick
• Serum PSA
• Flow rate & Bladder scan

Differential Diagnosis

• Urinary Tract Infection
• Conditions causing Over-production of Urine (Polyuria)
• Bladder and Prostate Malignancy
• Neurological Conditions (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)

Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPH)

The prevalence of BPH increases with age from as high as 40% in men in their fifties to 90% in men in their nineties. Because of such a high prevalence of symptomatic BPH, it is of public health importance. This makes it necessary for the primary care clinicians to be able to manage the initial assessment and treatment of this condition in the primary care. This is supported by the NICE guidelines on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. After excluding other causes of BPH as mentioned above, it is important to stratify the risk of BPH in terms of the risk of progression and risk of BPH related complications.

Differential Diagnosis:

• Quantification of symptoms severity by IPSS Questionnaire
• Clinical Examination – Prostate Volume
• Bladder Diary
• Serum PSA
• Flow rate and Residuals

Conservative Treatment

The conservative management of BPH needs to be tailor made to the individual patient’s symptom severity and risk.

Low Risk:

• Watchful waiting
• Lifestyle Interventions
• Beverage advice
• Alpha Blockers, Antimuscarinics

Intermediate Risk:

• Same as above
• Combination Treatment
• Referral Planning

High Risk:

• Consider referral
• Combination treatment

Indications for Referral

• Red-flag symptoms or signs
• Failure of conservative Treatment
• Severe symptoms on presentation
• Correctable causes like tight urethral meatus or tight fore-skin
• Signs of complications (Retention, Urinary infections, Kidney failure, Bladder stones)