Direct vision internal urethrotomy. A prospective study of 81 primary strictures treated with a single urethrotomy.

The post-operative treatment of urethral strictures as well as the criteria of success have varied considerably. In order to find a solution to this problem, we undertook a prospective evaluation of 81 men treated for their first urethral stricture with a single urethrotomy. Fifty-one patients with a stricture 5 mm or less in length were catheterised post-operatively for 3 days. Patients with strictures longer than 5 mm were catheterised for 3 weeks (14 patients) or 6 weeks (16 patients). All were followed up for a minimum of 24 months. The stricture recurred in 33 patients (41%). We found that 3 days' catheter drainage was sufficient for patients with short strictures. Whether strictures measuring more than 5 mm might be treated similarly needs further investigation.