<p><strong>Clinicians may offer PVR and/or uroflowmetry during routine follow-up of patients with LUTS/BPH. (<em>Expert Opinion</em>)</strong></p>
Discussion
Discussion
<p>A PVR and uroflowmetry are readily available to most urologists and therefore are often used during routine follow-up in men with LUTS/BPH. This is particularly true in men with elevated PVR or those that have undergone a change in management.</p>
<p>Most trials reporting on efficacy (comparative or not) of interventions for LUTS/BPH report changes in IPSS as well as changes in uroflowmetry parameters and PVR. Therefore, obtaining a PVR and uroflowmetry in patients at baseline and after an intervention allows clinicians to compare the results to published benchmarks and allow changes in management if the results are inadequate. Worsening PVR or uroflowmetry parameters can also be an initial sign of adverse events after surgical intervention (e.g., bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture) or in the long term be a sign of prostate regrowth or worsening bladder function. Furthermore, the voiding pattern and morphology of the uroflowmetry curve can help diagnose non-BPH reasons for LUTS including urethral stricture or neurogenic bladder.</p>