[Treatment of urethral stenosis using Olbert's balloon dilatation angioplasty. Re-evaluation of the results].

Twenty-eight patients with an urethral stricture underwent Olbert's angioplasty balloon dilatation under local anaesthesia and fluoroscopic control. Four dilatations failed. Six were performed palliatively after failure of classical urethral catheterisation. Sixteen dilatations were performed curatively: thirteen patients developed a recurrent stricture after periods of between 3 days and 12 months. Three patients were cured. Our results suggest that angioplasty balloon dilatation is ineffective as a curative procedure and should be reserved for inoperable patients requiring and indwelling catheter, in whom classical catheterisation has failed.