Direct vision internal urethrotomy by using endoscopic scissors.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU) by using endoscopic scissors for incision of short (<1 cm) urethral strictures in adult men.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients who had short bulbar urethral strictures were evaluated in this study. Endoscopic scissors was used for incision of urethral strictures in all patients. Retrograde urethrography (RGU) and maximum flow rate(Qmax) <15.0 ml/s by uroflowmetry were used for the definition of recurrences.

RESULTS

The procedure was found successful in all patients. The mean size of stricture was 0.73 cm. The mean pre-procedure Qmax was 7.9 ml/s. The mean procedure time was 10.2 min. The mean Qmax was 19.4 ml/s at the third month postoperatively. RGU was normal in all patients at the third month postoperatively. The mean follow-up was 8.1 months. Three (14.2 %) patients underwent second DVIU due to recurrence. No complication was observed during the follow-up except urinary tract infection in two (9.5 %) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

DVIU using endoscopic scissors appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality for incision of short urethral strictures in adult men.