|
Progress in the effective management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic disease (BPD) is one of the remarkable achievements of twentieth century medicine, with mortality from urinary outflow obstruction now rare in the Western world. When the primary issue at stake is quality of life, rather than mortality, the choice of treatment is paramount. Patients, GPs and specialists too are surrounded by multiple options for both diagnosis and therapy, and they can be forgiven for feeling uncertain as to the best course of action.
This important volume is a timely contribution to the debate on the management of BPD/LUTS. Some of its constituent chapters consider the evidence underpinning the competing claims for medical therapy and surgical intervention (the gold standard). Others compare and contrast traditional, hospital-based management to newer, community-based methods of assessment, in the light of the current trend towards transfer of care from secondary to primary care. Certain men will still need more formal and detailed 'specialist' assessment. This role is also explored. Finally, in the process of diagnosis there remains the problem of excluding men with prostate cancer, and the benefits of effective differential diagnosis are discussed.
As such The Effective Management of Benign Prostatic Disease and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms is essential reading for consultants and specialist registrars in urology, urology nurse specialists and general practitioners, and is recommended to all those colleagues with an interest in or responsibility for the effective and efficient management of BPD and LUTS. |
