Balloon dilation of prostatic urethra.

Retrograde balloon catheter dilation of the prostatic urethra was performed for the management of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to prostatic hyperplasia. Of the 55 patients in our series, 43 were treated entirely as outpatients and 12 were inpatients for unrelated conditions. The patient selection was limited to older, high-risk patients who were poor surgical candidates for transurethral resection of the prostate or suprapubic prostatectomy because of underlying medical problems. Twenty-two of these patients had Foley catheters for relief of their outflow obstructions. The procedures were performed under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Successful results were noted in 46 of 55 patients with relief of symptoms for up to twenty-six months. In 9 cases the procedures were unsuccessful and transurethral resection of the prostate was required.