Clinical Evaluation of Repeated Internal Urethrotomy in Incomplete Anterior Urethral Stricture

Chung, Young Churl; Kim, Byung Hoon; Chang, Hyuk Soo; Park, Choal Hee; Kim, Chun Il

Abstract

PURPOSE: Visual internal urethrotomy is a standard therapy for incomplete urethral stricture, and may also be a reasonable initial treatment for a short complete urethral stricture. The success rate and final results of the repeated internal urethrotomy were retrospectively assessed to figure out the appropriate indication for visual internal urethrotomy as an initial treatment for incomplete pendulous and bulbous urethral stricture; according to the stricture free month.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 1990 and December 1999, an internal urethrotomy was primarily performed on 166 patients with urethral strictures. The exclusion criteria were complete urethral and posterior urethral stricture. Retrograde urethrography was performed under fluoroscopic control. When the stricture recurred, the urethrotomy was repeated as the primary procedure.
RESULTS
With regard to the time to recurrence, the success rate of the group of stricture recurrence at 6 months was significantly lower than that of the stricture free group at 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS
With regard to the stricture site and length, the stricture free month might be considered as an important predictor of the outcome of a repeated internal urethrotomy, and visual internal urethrotomy might be considered as an initial treatment method for incomplete urethral stricture under the following conditions; a bulbous stricture, a stricture length under 20mm, and stricture free at 6 months.