Prostatism and inguinal hernia.

We reviewed a series of 70 patients who had transurethral resection of the prostate to determine the incidence of inguinal hernia. We found inguinal hernias in 20% of the patients, a figure significantly higher than in the general population. In 47% of the patients a hernia was present on admission or herniorrhaphy had been done previously. Urine flow rate has been previously found to be an excellent screening measurement for prostatism, a concept confirmed by this series. Because benign prostatic hyperplasia has associated morbidity and because its presence is not desirable in patients having herniorrhaphy, urine flow rate is advocated as a routine screening test for prostatism in patients with inguinal hernias.