The use of intraurethral prostatic spiral in high risk patients for surgery with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Under local anaesthesia, 31 patients underwent insertion of an expandable stainless steel tubular spiral into the prostatic urethra under fluoroscopic control. All were considered to be at major risk from prostatic surgery. Most of them had long-term indwelling urethral catheters (14 patients). The spiral allowed unobstructed voiding and is a good alternative to an indwelling urethral catheter. We recommend insertion of a spiral in patients with urinary obstruction if they are unfit for surgery.