- Clinical Professor, Dept of Surgery -University of Toronto. Urologic and Robotic Surgeon since 1982. P.I. in over 250... moreClinical Professor, Dept of Surgery -University of Toronto. Urologic and Robotic Surgeon since 1982. P.I. in over 250 clinical trials. Multiple peer reviewed publications. Previous Chief of Staff- Humber River Hospital. Medical director: Can-am HIFU. Developed the first Blue Light Cystoscopy of any Hospital in Canada. Executive Editor of the Canadian Journal of Urology. History of helping to develop, research, market and launch new drugs and technology in Canada and around the world.edit
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The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist degarelix has several unique characteristics compared to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs used in the management of prostate cancer. Notable differences of... more
The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist degarelix has several unique characteristics compared to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs used in the management of prostate cancer. Notable differences of GnRH receptor antagonists include no flare reaction, and a more rapid suppression of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) compared to LHRH analogs. Despite emerging evidence supporting the use of GnRH receptor antagonists over the more widely used LHRH analogs in the management of prostate cancer, physicians may be reluctant to prescribe degarelix. They may be concerned about patient complaints about injection-site reactions (ISRs). The subcutaneous injection of degarelix has been associated with a higher rate of ISRs compared with the intramuscular injections of LHRH analogs. This "How I Do It" article describes techniques and strategies that have been developed by ...
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Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often present with voiding and storage symptoms, which may require combination therapy with an alpha blocker and an antimuscarinic (AM).... more
Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often present with voiding and storage symptoms, which may require combination therapy with an alpha blocker and an antimuscarinic (AM). This study compared treatment persistence in LUTS/BPH patients on alpha blocker monotherapy with those using combination alpha blocker and AM therapy (AB/AM). Retrospective analysis of anonymized patient longitudinal prescription reimbursement claims data. All patients who had claims for any of four alpha blocker medications and six AM agents during an index period from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012 were included. For the combination therapy group, the effect of adherence with the AM medication on persistence to the alpha blocker was examined. Patients on AB/AM combination therapy remained on alpha blockers for longer than those on alpha blocker monotherapy (p = 0.04); 92.4% were persistent at 3 months versus 89.0%, and at 1 year 50.8% were persis...
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Supplemental administration of androgens has been advocated for men with sexual dysfunction (SD) and hypoandrogenism. The preponderance of evidence indicates that most delivery forms of testosterone (T) are effective but the role of... more
Supplemental administration of androgens has been advocated for men with sexual dysfunction (SD) and hypoandrogenism. The preponderance of evidence indicates that most delivery forms of testosterone (T) are effective but the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is controversial. A placebo-controlled, randomized trial of oral androgen (T versus DHEA) supplementation was carried out to determine their efficacy. Eighty-six men with SD and decreased levels of serum T and/or DHEA, participated in a study receiving oral T undecanoate (OTU) (n = 29) 80 mg twice daily, DHEA (n = 28) 50 mg twice daily, or placebo (n = 29). Outcomes included evaluation of sexual performance by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM), Aging Male Symtom Scale (AMS), and Global Assessment Questionnaire (GAQ) questionnaires. Biochemical evaluations included measurement of T and DHEA, prolactin, gonadotropins, and PSA. Seventy-nine men completed the study. There were no significant differences in outcomes as assessed by four different instruments: the ADAM, IIEF, AMS, and GAQ in regard to sexual interest or erectile function. Biochemically, a significant increase in serum DHEA between baseline and final visit was documented in the group receiving DHEA. The levels of T, on the other hand, increased insignificantly between entry and final visit in the T cohort. No biochemical changes were observed in the placebo group. Levels of PSA remained stable in all three groups. This study did not suggest a clinical benefit of OTU or DHEA supplementation in men with hypoandrogenism and SD. The recommended dose of OTU may have been inadequate or poorly absorbed. Increased doses or an alternative T delivery form may result in a different response.
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Significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common in men over age 50. It is appropriate for the primary care physician to perform the work up to confirm that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is causing the LUTS. If the... more
Significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common in men over age 50. It is appropriate for the primary care physician to perform the work up to confirm that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is causing the LUTS. If the physician determines that the patient has moderate symptoms (an International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] ≥ 8), moderate 'bother' (≥ 3 on the IPSS "bothersome index" question), and an enlarged (> 30 cc) prostate, then the most effective treatment is combination therapy with an alpha blocker and 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) at the time of confirmed BPH diagnosis. This combination will provide the most dramatic, early symptom response, the most sustained symptom response, and the most durable, reliable prevention of long term sequelae (acute urinary retention or the need for surgery), if the patient is compliant with taking the combination therapy.
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Several abstracts presented at the 2015 European Association of Urology Meeting highlighted new developments in hormone therapy for prostate cancer management. One abstract described how the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone... more
Several abstracts presented at the 2015 European Association of Urology Meeting highlighted new developments in hormone therapy for prostate cancer management. One abstract described how the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)/gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide, but not the LHRH/GnRH antagonist degarelix, induced plaque instability in a mouse model. A second abstract showed that in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular disease, degarelix was associated with fewer cardiovascular events than treatment with an LHRH agonist. A third abstract showed how primary androgen-deprivation therapy was linked with increased all-cause mortality in a US registry. A fourth abstract showed that in the ANAMEN study, cognitive performance was not significantly affected by 6 months of treatment with GnRH agonists. Last, a fifth abstract showed that low-dose prednisone, with or without abiraterone, was associated with an overall low incidence of corticosteroid-as...
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To report the three year results of a multi-center, randomized, patient and outcome assessor blinded trial of the Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL) in men with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia... more
To report the three year results of a multi-center, randomized, patient and outcome assessor blinded trial of the Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL) in men with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At 19 centers in North America and Australia, 206 subjects = 50 years old with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥ 13, peak flow rate (Qmax) ≤ 12 mL/s, and prostate volume between 30 cc-80 cc were randomized 2:1 to the PUL procedure or sham control. PUL involved placing permanent UroLift implants into the lateral lobes of the prostate to enlarge the urethral lumen. After randomized comparison at 3 months, PUL patients were followed to 3 years. LUTS severity (IPSS), quality of life, Qmax, sexual function, and adverse events were assessed throughout follow up. The therapeutic effect of PUL regarding IPSS was 88% greater than sham at 3 months. Average improvements from baseline through 3 years were significant for total IPSS (41.1%), ...
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Urologists have two scenarios where they have to address bone loss or increased risk of fractures in men with prostate cancer. In the first setting, a patient who has been started on androgen deprivation therapy may develop... more
Urologists have two scenarios where they have to address bone loss or increased risk of fractures in men with prostate cancer. In the first setting, a patient who has been started on androgen deprivation therapy may develop cancer-treatment-induced bone loss. In the second setting, a patient's prostate cancer may have metastasized to the bone. This article describes six steps to manage bone health in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in a community practice.
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Patients with urologic conditions may present to a primary care physician (PCP) in the emergency department or in the PCP's office. Some conditions are true emergencies that require immediate surgical intervention. Others may require... more
Patients with urologic conditions may present to a primary care physician (PCP) in the emergency department or in the PCP's office. Some conditions are true emergencies that require immediate surgical intervention. Others may require medical treatment or possibly simply reassuring the patient that there is no serious medical problem. Sometimes the diagnosis can be easily made, whereas other times the PCP needs to be able to rule out serious causes for a presenting problem and execute a guideline-recommended patient work up, to make a final diagnosis. Sometimes recommended diagnostic tests may not be readily available. When a PCP believes that a patient may have a serious urologic condition and is unsure of the appropriate patient management strategy, then he or she must quickly refer the patient to a urologist. This article describes common urology-related issues-hematuria, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test interpretation, phimosis and paraphimosis, acute scrotal pain and mas...
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Testosterone deficiency (TD) afflicts approximately 30% of men ages 40-79 years, with an increase in prevalence strongly associated with aging and common medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. There appears to... more
Testosterone deficiency (TD) afflicts approximately 30% of men ages 40-79 years, with an increase in prevalence strongly associated with aging and common medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. There appears to be a strong relationship between TD and metabolic syndrome, though the relationship is not certain to be causal. Several studies have suggested that repletion of testosterone in deficient men with these comorbidities may indeed reverse or delay their progression. While testosterone repletion has been largely thought of in a sexual realm, we discuss its potential role in general men's health concerns: metabolic, body composition, and its association with decreased all-cause mortality. Recent guidelines and studies have suggested variable prevalence statistics and expanded uses of testosterone repletion in certain populations with both biochemical and clinical signs of testosterone deficiency. Yet, this is not done without risk. A recent randomized...
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An association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease has long been recognized, and studies suggest that ED is an independent marker of cardiovascular disease risk and even further, a marker for the burden of both... more
An association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease has long been recognized, and studies suggest that ED is an independent marker of cardiovascular disease risk and even further, a marker for the burden of both obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Therefore, the primary care physician (PCP) must assess the presence or absence of ED in every man > 39 years of age, especially if that man is asymptomatic of signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease. Assessment and management of ED may help identify and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events, particularly in younger middle-aged men. The initial ED evaluation should distinguish between predominantly vasculogenic ED and ED of other etiologies. For men believed to have predominantly vasculogenic ED, we recommend that initial cardiovascular risk stratification be based on the Framingham Risk Score. Management of men with ED who are at low risk for cardiovascular disease should foc...
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Researchers are constantly seeking ways to improve existing drugs, drug mechanisms of activity, find new indications for old drugs or to develop new drugs to treat urological diseases and conditions. In Canada, tadalafil in a 5 mg daily... more
Researchers are constantly seeking ways to improve existing drugs, drug mechanisms of activity, find new indications for old drugs or to develop new drugs to treat urological diseases and conditions. In Canada, tadalafil in a 5 mg daily dosage (old drug), and a new drug, silodosin, have recently become available to treat patients who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In clinical studies, silodosin has shown promise as a treatment for ureteral stones, whereas it has shown conflicting results as a potential treatment for prostatitis. Two new therapies have emerged for treating overactive bladder (OAB): Mirabegron (not yet available in Canada) and fesoterodine (newly introduced in the marketplace). New therapies--denosumab (to prevent skeletal events) and abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide--were recently approved to treat certain patients with advanced prostate cancer. With the advent of new therapies to treat urological diseases, in ma...
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Erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) are closely related. In addition to affecting men's sexual health, both conditions also affect other male health issues. Screening for ED, especially in younger men,... more
Erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) are closely related. In addition to affecting men's sexual health, both conditions also affect other male health issues. Screening for ED, especially in younger men, should become standard clinical practice for the primary care physician. Possible systemic effects and associated effects of TDS are now well documented. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is very safe and effective in the right man.
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Many men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) forego therapy because they are dissatisfied with current treatment options. While surgical resection and ablation using many different forms of energy remain the reference standard for BPH... more
Many men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) forego therapy because they are dissatisfied with current treatment options. While surgical resection and ablation using many different forms of energy remain the reference standard for BPH treatment, many men seek a less invasive technique that will improve symptoms but not risk the complications associated with tissue removal. The Prostatic Urethral Lift opens the prostatic urethra with UroLift (NeoTract Inc., Pleasanton, CA, USA) permanent implants that are delivered under cystoscopic visualization. The implants literally "hold open" the lateral prostatic lobes creating a passage through the obstructed prostatic urethra. Voiding and symptoms are significantly improved without the morbidity or possible complications following prostate resection. The entire procedure can be readily performed using local anesthesia. As with all new implant procedures, the technique has evolved with experience. The objective of this article i...
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One of the challenges facing primary care physicians and specialists as the population ages is the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While as many as 18% of men in their 40s... more
One of the challenges facing primary care physicians and specialists as the population ages is the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While as many as 18% of men in their 40s report bother from an enlarged prostate, that figure rises dramatically, whereby 50% of men in their 50s and 90% of men in their 90s will complain of bothersome symptoms related to an enlarged prostate. Studies have shown that BPH is a progressive disease, which if left untreated can result in worsening of symptoms, acute urinary retention and renal failure. Until about 20 years ago the only management option available to urologists was surgery. In the early 1990s medical therapy emerged as the predominant treatment for BPH. Therapy may be tailored to target symptoms and progression of disease.
The need for men to undergo screening for prostate cancer is controversial. Urologists are concerned about finding many men with minimal disease who may not require therapy or may be over-treated, while conversely missing men with... more
The need for men to undergo screening for prostate cancer is controversial. Urologists are concerned about finding many men with minimal disease who may not require therapy or may be over-treated, while conversely missing men with clinically significant prostate cancer that could be treated and cured if found at an early enough stage. Most men today present to the physician with some symptoms attributable to the prostate, and then have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen for prostate cancer. PSA is still the most effective test to suggest that there may be underlying prostate cancer. In addition to measuring total PSA, other measures such as PSA density, age-related PSA, or PSA velocity can provide further justification that a patient should undergo a prostate biopsy to detect possible cancer. The American Urological Association has developed new guidelines for screening for prostate cancer in men who are not at risk. The key is to use one of the PSA tools to help diagn...
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Significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common in men over age 50. It is appropriate for the primary care physician to perform the work up to confirm that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is causing the LUTS. If the... more
Significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common in men over age 50. It is appropriate for the primary care physician to perform the work up to confirm that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is causing the LUTS. If the physician determines that the patient has moderate symptoms (an International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] ≥ 8), moderate 'bother' (≥ 3 on the IPSS "bothersome index" question), and an enlarged (> 30 cc) prostate, then the most effective treatment is combination therapy with an alpha blocker and 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) at the time of confirmed BPH diagnosis. This combination will provide the most dramatic, early symptom response, the most sustained symptom response, and the most durable, reliable prevention of long term sequelae (acute urinary retention or the need for surgery), if the patient is compliant with taking the combination therapy.
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Overactive bladder (OAB) is common and has a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. It is important for physicians to know how to identify and manage patients with this condition. Usually only basic clinical evaluations and a... more
Overactive bladder (OAB) is common and has a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. It is important for physicians to know how to identify and manage patients with this condition. Usually only basic clinical evaluations and a good patient history are necessary to diagnose OAB. Effective and safe oral therapy is available and can be initiated by primary care physicians.
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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the earliest signs and markers of present or potential future endothelial dysfunction. One of the causes of ED can be low testosterone levels or hypogonadism. This article describes ways to identify and... more
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the earliest signs and markers of present or potential future endothelial dysfunction. One of the causes of ED can be low testosterone levels or hypogonadism. This article describes ways to identify and diagnose patients with ED or hypogonadism, and it offers a plan for treatment of these conditions. The mainstay first-line medical therapies for ED are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. For patients with symptomatic hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy is both safe and effective.
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Curative treatments for localized prostate cancer, from least invasive to most invasive, include brachytherapy, cryosurgery, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, external beam radiation therapy, and radical prostatectomy. A... more
Curative treatments for localized prostate cancer, from least invasive to most invasive, include brachytherapy, cryosurgery, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, external beam radiation therapy, and radical prostatectomy. A patient with localized, low risk or intermediate risk prostate cancer who is diagnosed at an early age and receives one of these treatments has only an approximately 50% chance of maintaining an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, good spontaneous erections, and total continence by 5 years after treatment. This article discusses transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of localized prostate cancer using the Sonablate 500 (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA) device, which the author has adopted in favor of the Ablatherm (EDAP, TMS S. A., Lyons, France) device, the other HIFU device approved for use in Canada. Characteristics of the ideal prostate cancer include stage T1-T2b, less than 40 cc in size, and with an ant...
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Studies have repeatedly confirmed that about 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). Other studies have shown that as a man ages, his testosterone level will naturally decrease. Over... more
Studies have repeatedly confirmed that about 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). Other studies have shown that as a man ages, his testosterone level will naturally decrease. Over the last number of years, we have also seen that ED may be one of the earliest signs and markers of endothelial dysfunction. There appears to be an overlap between ED, metabolic syndrome, and symptomatic late onset hypogonadism (SLOH). It is very important for the primary care physician to identify patients who are suffering from ED and/or hypogonadism, and to also identify any other existing comorbidities. This article discusses the suggested work up, diagnosis, and management of men who present with either ED or symptoms and signs suggestive of hypogonadism (low testosterone). It also discusses the potential relationship between these conditions and metabolic syndrome.
Research Interests: Life Style, Treatment Outcome, Risk assessment, Comorbidity, Erectile dysfunction, and 14 moreHumans, Testosterone, Male, Follow-up studies, Incidence, Clinical Sciences, Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors, Aged, Middle Aged, Late onset hypogonadism, Adult, Physical examination, Risk Assessment, and Age of Onset
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Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes today of men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We can find this in 50% of men over the age of fifty. If BPH is not treated, then one can... more
Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes today of men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We can find this in 50% of men over the age of fifty. If BPH is not treated, then one can expect that the disease will progress in a significant number of individuals. What we need to do is try to predict based on certain baseline parameters such as International Prostate Score (IPSS), prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the degree of bother, those men to whom we should offer therapy. The other consideration is that combination therapy of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) and an alpha blocker, may provide the best results in the prevention of progression of the disease or ultimately, the need for surgery. The final considerations are if, for how long and for whom should combination therapy be utilized.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men over age 50. Fifty percent of men over age 50 will require some type of management for BPH/LUTS symptoms. Until about 15 years... more
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men over age 50. Fifty percent of men over age 50 will require some type of management for BPH/LUTS symptoms. Until about 15 years ago, the most common management for BPH was a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) operation. Initially, once a diagnosis of BPH has been made, most men are treated medically. One must first rule out other serious causes of these symptoms, such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and other obstructions. For men with an enlarged prostate, there is a good chance that therapy with a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) can prevent disease progression and the need for surgery. There has been a lot of recent work on different combination therapies for the treatment of BPH/LUTS. If a patient's serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is greater than 1.5 ng/ml and his prostate volume is greater than 30 cc and he has significant LUTS, then ...
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High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive technique that uses focused ultrasound waves to ablate tissue. This retrospective study evaluates the early HIFU experience at a single Canadian center. Ninety-five patients were... more
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive technique that uses focused ultrasound waves to ablate tissue. This retrospective study evaluates the early HIFU experience at a single Canadian center. Ninety-five patients were treated between March 2006 and December 2007 using the Sonablate-500 device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Follow up occurred at 3 month intervals and included serial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements, assessments of erectile function and continence rates with the international index of erectile function (IIEF) and expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) questionnaires respectively. Early and late complications were also studied. There were 95 patients treated by five urologists. The mean age of patients was 64 years (range 46-91). The majority of men treated had Gleason 6 (n = 53) or Gleason 7 (n = 35) disease. The remainder had Gleason 8 (n = 5) and Gleason 9 (n = 2) prostate cancer. Prostate volume in the pre-treatment...
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The evaluation and treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) starts in the primary care office and can be accomplished efficiently, effectively and, most importantly, safely. With appropriate knowledge of the disease and an understanding of... more
The evaluation and treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) starts in the primary care office and can be accomplished efficiently, effectively and, most importantly, safely. With appropriate knowledge of the disease and an understanding of what to look for the primary care physician (PCP) can readily make the empiric diagnosis and initiate treatment. The key for the PCP is to be able to distinguish the uncomplicated patient from the complicated one and know when to refer, if necessary. It is also essential to be able to able to identify confounding conditions that could either be the cause of the symptoms or, in fact, make them worse. The algorithm presented in this paper describes a simplified, yet complete, approach to the patient presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) consistent with OAB. In the paper, we explain the disease itself, its prevalence and impact, the evaluation as well as the different treatment modalities that are available for the patient. Appropriate fol...
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In the primary care office the evaluation of prostate related lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH-LUTS) in the male can be confusing. Are the symptoms, in fact, from the prostate or is there another etiology such as the bladder or medical... more
In the primary care office the evaluation of prostate related lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH-LUTS) in the male can be confusing. Are the symptoms, in fact, from the prostate or is there another etiology such as the bladder or medical conditions causing or contributing to the problems? If the cause is the prostate, how does the physician choose from the multitude of available treatment options and when is referral appropriate? The prevalence of BPH-LUTS is high and commonly encountered by the primary care physician (PCP). An understanding of the normal prostate is essential to identifying the patient when symptoms do occur. Then the evaluation and treatment of the affected patient can occur effectively and efficiently in the PCP setting. In this article we present the background information needed for the PCP to provide this evaluation of the patient with BPH-LUTS. We explain the various treatment options that are best suited for the individual which are based on symptom severity,...