A self-expanding, self-retaining temporary urethral stent (Urocoil(TM)) in the treatment of recurrent urethral strictures: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of a self-expanding self-retaining temporary urethral stent (Urocoil) in patients with recurrent urethral strictures at different levels in the urethra.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Urocoil stents were placed in 18 patients (mean age 42 years, range 28-60) with recurrent urethral strictures. The stents were left for a mean of 8 months (range 6-14) and patients followed for a mean of 9 months (range 6-18) after removal of the stent, being assessed by urine culture, urethrography, flexible cystoscopy and urinary flow rate.

RESULTS

The stents were easy to insert and remove under local anaesthesia. All patients except one had a satisfactory outcome. Complications included stent migration (3), encrustation (2), hyperplasia of the mucosa (2) and the one failure, where the stent was extruded by a long fibrous stricture.

CONCLUSION

The use of the temporary stent is an encouraging development in the treatment of this complicated problem but a longer follow-up is necessary to exclude the possibility of late recurrence.