Clinical Studies on Urethral Syndrome

Youn, Jong Mock; Kwon, Soung Won

Abstract

In female subjects, the urethral syndrome, causing frequency, urgency, nocturia, dysuria and suprapubic discomfortness is a common urological problem. Stevens first discussed this syndrome in 1923. Since that time reports and accounts of it have been voluminous, however, the etiology of the female urethral syndrome has not been fully clarified and its entity has been understood poorly in urologic aspects. While some authors claim the syndrome is an infectious disease, others believe urethral obstruction to urination to be an important cause of this syndrome. In order to be helpful in determining the etiology, diagnosis, management and treatment of the patient, who are suffered from urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, suprapubic discomfortness and back pain, author studied the clinical observation of 299 patients who had been visited in out patient clinic and 21 patients who had been admitted to the urologic department with urethral syndrome. All 299 patients were analysed according to the age distribution, past history, chief complaints, laboratory results, cystoscopic findings and results of treatment. The results of this study are summerized as follows. 1. The age distribution revealed 119 cases (39.4%) in between 21 and 30 year old, 88 cases(29%) in between 31 and 40 year old, 50 cases (18%) in between 41 and 50 year old, among the total 299 cases. 2. The most common chief complaints were 267 cases of urinary frequency, 107 cases of dysuria, 70 cases of residual sensation, 51 cases of nocturia. 3. The most common past history was 33 cases (40%) of cystitis, 32 cases (39%) of gynecological operation. 4. There were 27 cases of small Gram(-) bacilli, 26 cases of W.B.C. (10/HPF), 4 cases of tricomonas and 3 cases of candida on vaginal swab. 5. Cystoscopic findings revealed 12 cases of trigonal hyperemia, 4 cases of urethral congestion. 6. Results of treatment. 1) 274 cases under the impression of urethral syndrome were treated with medical and psychological methods. The majority of the cases showed improved symptoms. 2) 21 cases were treated with internal urethrotomy and the results were satisfactory.