What is uroflowmetry?

uroflowmetry is a diagnostic test that is administered to control abnormalities in the amount or flow of the patient's urine. The procedure is simple and painless and simply includes urination to the funnel connected to an electronic meter. Doctors usually use uroflowmetry to control possible barriers of bladder, kidney problems, prostate enlargement and urinary tract infection. Unusual test results indicate the need for other testing procedures such as X -rays and laboratory analysis.

In most cases, a urologist or primary care decides to perform uroflowmetry after a physical examination and ask about the patient's physical symptoms. The test is usually not performed on the same day as the initial evaluation, because certain measures need to be taken. The physician may explain the procedure and inform the patient what he has to do before uroflowmetry. Precise instructions may vary, but most doctors suggest that the use of non -essential drugs about 48 hoursIn before the test to ensure accurate results. In addition, people have to drink a few glasses of water in the morning to have full bladder.

On the day of the uroflowmetry test, the doctor may explain the procedure and show the patient how to use the device. The meter and funnel are connected to the toilet in its own bathroom. About five seconds before urination, the person presses the button and turns on the meter. Then he hits the funnel and tries normally without stress or stop. After urination, the button is pressed again to turn off the meter. The nurse or doctor then reads the device and reads the results.

The test results reveal how much urine was released, the speed at which it was excluded and how long it took to completely cancel the bladder. Meters usually report Amounts in Mililiters per second (ml/s). Results can be compared with well -established averages for men and women in certain age ranges to determine whether they are normal. For exampleThe average flow in men over 65 years is about 9 ml/s. If the results of the patient's uroflowmetry are approximately 5 ml/s, the doctor may suspect that an enlarged prostate or other common condition prevents regular urine flow.

When the values ​​of uroflowmetry are abnormal, diagnostic imaging screens, other physical tests and blood and urine tests are performed. Treatment in the form of drugs, physical therapy or surgery may be needed depending on the particular problem of humans. Uroflowmetry is often repeated regularly during treatment to see if the symptoms are improving.