Long-term results of urolume urethral stent for recurrent urethral strictures.

PURPOSE

We present the long-term results of the first 50 patients treated with a new urethral stent (UroLume) developed in 1985 for recurrent bulbomembranous urethral strictures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All stents were inserted with the patient under general anesthesia using a standard endoscopic delivery system. Of the patients 27 were followed for 5 years or longer, 5 for 4 years and 18 for shorter periods due to death, illness or other factors.

RESULTS

Mean (plus or minus standard deviation) maximum flow rate at last following was 19.7 ml. per second (+/- 6.9), and 93% of the patients were satisfied with the stent. In 8 patients (16%) narrowing developed within the lumen of the stent and in the remaining 84% the stent achieved its purpose of maintaining a good urethral lumen. In 9 patients stricture recurred outside the stent because of inaccurate positioning. All of these complications were satisfactorily treated by an additional overlapping stent. Failures occurred particularly in patients with a long stricture history and extensive periurethral fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that at 4 to 6 years promising early results with the UroLume stent for urethral strictures are maintained with a low late failure rate. This device is not suitable for all strictures and cases with extensive periurethral fibrosis should be avoided but it remains a useful and successful treatment option for many recurrent bulbomembranous urethral strictures.