The role of noninvasive penile cuff test in patients with bladder outlet obstruction

The diagnostic value of non-invasive methods for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: A meta-analysis

Purpose

We conducted the first meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic value of non-invasive methods for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods

We searched a range of databases for relevant publications up to June 2022, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Retrieved studies were then reviewed for eligibility and data were extracted. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. We then performed a formal meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of various non-invasive methods for diagnosing BOO in men.

Results

We identified 51 eligible studies including 7,897 patients for meta-analysis. The majority of the studies had a low overall RoB. Detrusor wall thickness (DWT) (pooled sensitivity (SSY): 71%; specificity (SPY): 88%; diagnostic odds ratio (DOR): 17.15; area under curve (AUC) 0.87) and the penile cuff test (PCT) (pooled SSY: 87%; SPY: 78%; DOR: 23.54; AUC: 0.88) showed high accuracy for diagnosing BOO. Furthermore, data suggested that DWT had the highest pooled SPY (0.89), DOR (32.58), and AUC (0.90), when using 2 mm as the cut-off.

Conclusion

Of the non-invasive tests tested, DWT and PCT had the highest levels of diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing BOO in men with LUTS. DWT, with a 2 mm cut-off, had the highest level of accuracy. These two methods represent good options as non-invasive tools for evaluating BOO in males.

Use of the penile cuff test to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Among noninvasive modalities for assessing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), the penile cuff test (PCT) is the most used in clinical practice. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the performance of PCT in diagnosing and managing BOO.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for studies investigating use of PCT for BOO. Studies evaluating diagnostic parameters, inter-observer agreements, or treatment outcomes using PCT were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol was followed (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022300047). A proportional meta-analysis was done for diagnostic accuracy proportions. The Egger's and the Begg-Mazumdar rank-correlation tests were used to assess publication bias. Risk of bias was assessed using the Gradings of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 272 articles retrieved, 17 were included in qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis was performed on five studies (comprising 448 patients). Two studies evaluating inter-observer agreement demonstrated 95% agreement and five studies evaluating procedures reported a 66%-80% surgical success rate on obstructed patients using PCT. From the proportional meta-analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 0.85 (95% CI 0.71-0.95) 0.78 (95% CI 0.67-0.87), 0.74 (95% CI 0.52-0.91), and 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-0.96), respectively. Publication bias was noted for PPV but not for sensitivity, specificity, or NPV. Based on the GRADE criteria, there were two low, six moderate, and nine high-quality studies.

CONCLUSIONS

PCT performs sufficiently in diagnosing and managing BOO. However, due to variability in obstruction criteria assessment, more studies comparing diagnostic criteria are warranted.

New Diagnostics for Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is a common constellation of symptoms that affect the aging male population with an astonishing prevalence. New technology and new uses of established technology are being used to help further evaluate LUTS in the male population and help guide treatment options. This review focuses on the developments and future directions in diagnostic modalities for evaluation of male LUTS, focusing on evaluation of both the filling and voiding phases of micturition.

RECENT FINDINGS

New techniques in evaluating the voiding phase include penile cuff test, external pressure sensing condom catheter, ultrasound measurement of detrusor wall thickness, ultrasound measurement of intravesical prostatic protrusion, doppler ultrasound and NIRS technology. Evaluation of the filling phase is still undergoing much development and requires additional validation studies. The techniques undergoing evaluation include sensation meters during UDS, assessing bladder micromotion and wall rhythm, assessing detrusor wall biomechanics, ultrasound measurement of detrusor wall thickness, pelvic doppler ultrasound, as well as functional brain imaging including fNIRS and fMRI.

SUMMARY

The development of novel, non-invasive, diagnostic tools have the potential for better evaluation of LUTS with earlier and enhanced treatments. This will likely improve the quality of life for men with LUTS.

Can the Penile Cuff Test Predict the Outcome of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate for Benign Prostatic Obstruction?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the penile cuff test can predict surgical outcomes prior to Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic obstruction.

METHODS

Men scheduled to undergo Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate were enrolled in this study, and all patients underwent the penile cuff test prior to and 3 months after surgery. Patients were categorized as obstructed, nonobstructed, or uncertain by nomogram. Surgical outcomes were assessed by evaluating changes in their international prostate symptom score, quality of life index, and maximum flow rate preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The proportion of patients with good outcomes was compared among nomogram-classified groups, and postoperative changes in position on the nomogram were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 125 patients were analyzed. After surgery, the overall treatment efficacy and symptomatic treatment efficacy were not different between obstructed and nonobstructed patients. However, the maximum flow rate and quality of life score were significantly higher after surgery in obstructed patients compared to nonobstructed patients. After surgery, 75.7% of patients with obstruction and 63.6% of patients categorized as uncertain for obstruction transitioned to the nonobstructed group, while 77.3% of nonobstructed patients remained in the nonobstructed group.

CONCLUSION

The penile cuff test can be used in patients with bladder outlet obstruction to predict good functional outcome and improved quality of life following treatment with Holmium laser enucleation. After Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, the majority of patients were classified as nonobstructed.

Systematic Review of the Performance of Noninvasive Tests in Diagnosing Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

CONTEXT

Several noninvasive tests have been developed for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men to avoid the burden and morbidity associated with invasive urodynamics. The diagnostic accuracy of these tests, however, remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review available evidence regarding the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive tests in diagnosing BOO in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using a pressure-flow study as the reference standard.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform Search Portal databases were searched up to May 18, 2016. All studies reporting diagnostic accuracy for noninvasive tests for BOO or detrusor underactivity in men with LUTS compared to pressure-flow studies were included. Two reviewers independently screened all articles, searched the reference lists of retrieved articles, and performed the data extraction. The quality of evidence and risk of bias were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The search yielded 2774 potentially relevant reports. After screening titles and abstracts, 53 reports were retrieved for full-text screening, of which 42 (recruiting a total of 4444 patients) were eligible. Overall, the results were predominantly based on findings from nonrandomised experimental studies and, within the limits of such study designs, the quality of evidence was typically moderate across the literature. Differences in noninvasive test threshold values and variations in the urodynamic definition of BOO between studies limited the comparability of the data. Detrusor wall thickness (median sensitivity 82%, specificity 92%), near-infrared spectroscopy (median sensitivity 85%, specificity 87%), and the penile cuff test (median sensitivity 88%, specificity 75%) were all found to have high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing BOO. Uroflowmetry with a maximum flow rate of <10ml/s was reported to have lower median sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 70%, respectively. Intravesical prostatic protrusion of >10mm was reported to have similar diagnostic accuracy, with median sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 75%.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the literature, a number of noninvasive tests have high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing BOO in men. However, although the majority of studies have a low overall risk of bias, the available evidence is limited by heterogeneity. While several tests have shown promising results regarding noninvasive assessment of BOO, invasive urodynamics remain the gold standard.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Urodynamics is an accurate but potentially uncomfortable test for patients in diagnosing bladder problems such as obstruction. We performed a thorough and comprehensive review of the literature to determine if there were less uncomfortable but equally effective alternatives to urodynamics for diagnosing bladder problems. We found that some simple tests appear to be promising, although they are not as accurate. Further research is needed before these tests are routinely used in place of urodynamics.