Visual internal urethrotomy.

Seventy-one patients with urethral strictures were treated by internal urethrotomy with the Storz-Sachse optical urethrotome. A good result was obtained in 70% of patients, whether a catheter had been left in for 7 or for 28 days. The urinary flow rate and a subjective assessment of his stream by the patient were found to be a reliable guide to the eventual outcome. Visual urethrotomy should be tried whenever possible before considering urethroplasty.