Lower urinary tract symptoms revisited.

摘要

In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the importance of considering lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as a global term. Under this umbrella term, disorders of bladder function can be most effectively considered as failure to store or failure to empty. We now clearly recognise the misconceptions inherent in the assumptions that all LUTS in men are caused by benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and that overactive bladder (OAB) is a female disease [1]. In this context, it is important to recognise that it has been known for at least 4 decades that symptoms do not relate to the underlying pathophysiology in many patients; indeed, the phrase "the bladder is an unreliable witness" was coined to acknowledge this [2]. We also recognise that it is essential to take into account patients' expectations and goals to achieve the most successful outcome for therapy.