Urodynamic and Symptomatic Effects of Balloon Dilation of the Prostate

Abstract

Forty-one patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent balloon dilatation of the prostate at our institution. Initial evaluation and followup (1, 3, and 6 months) consisted of symptom scores, urine flow rates, and urodynamics. Twenty-five patients had symptom scores evaluated at 1 month, eleven patients at 3 months, and nine patients at 6 months. There was a statistically significant improvement in symptom scores at these times when compared with the initial scores. Peak urine flow rates in the 20 patients available at 1 month showed a statistically significant improvement, from 9.76 to 11.8 ml/sec. At 3 and 6 months (13 and 7 patients, respectively), no significant improvements in flow rates from the 1-month values were detected. Eighteen patients had detrussor pressure measurements before and after balloon dilatation. The values increased from a mean of 83.89 cm H₂O initially to 88.55 cm H₂O at followup. Our results show that balloon dilatation of the prostate produces a significant improvement in symptoms but that decreased voiding pressures and improved peak urine flow rates are not achieved long term.