Prostatism and prostatectomy: the value of urine flow rate measurement in the preoperative assessment for operation.

Urine flow rates were measured before and after elective prostatic operations in 53 patients. The over-all success rate was 72 per cent, as assessed by the changes in symptoms and urine flow rates. Patients with less than a satisfactory operative result had more frequency and urgency and higher preoperative urine flow rates than patients with good results from the operation. Since bladder conditions unassociated with bladder outflow obstruction may be responsible for the poor results it is recommended that urine flow rates be measured before an elective prostatic operation so that patients unlikely to benefit from an operation may be identified.