How I Do It: The Optilume drug-coated balloon for urethral strictures.

Urethral stricture disease can be difficult to treat and stricture recurrence is common. The management of stricture disease has evolved and urethroplasty can achieve a high rate of lasting urethral patency. Nevertheless, endoscopic treatments still seem to have sub-optimal outcomes with high stricture recurrence rates. The Optilume drug-coated balloon represents a step forward in the endoscopic management of urethral strictures. The drug-coated balloon may offer an intermediate step prior to repeated dilations, urethrostomies, or urethroplasty. This treatment modality is a promising alternative to current endoscopic management and an option for patients that are poor surgical candidates or decline urethroplasty.