Suprapubic catheter following transurethral resection of the prostate: a way to decrease the number of urethral strictures and improve the outcome of operations.

A prospective, randomized study was done to investigate the role of transurethral catheters in stricture formation after transurethral resection of the prostate. The operative outcome after using transurethral catheters made of 2 different materials compared with suprapubic catheters was also investigated. We studied 344 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. After resection the patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) those drained by a transurethral polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)-coated latex catheter, 2) those drained by a transurethral polyvinylchloride catheter and 3) those drained by a suprapubic polyvinylchloride catheter. At 6 to 24 months the numbers of strictures in the anterior urethra were 10 of 102 and 11 of 102 in the transurethral drainage groups, respectively. The corresponding number of strictures in the suprapubic drainage group was 1 of 94 (p less than 0.01). Strictures in the bladder neck had developed in 5 of 102, 3 of 103 and 3 of 94 patients, respectively (not significant). As a consequence of a lower incidence of strictures in the anterior urethra in the suprapubic drainage group, more patients in that group were satisfied with the results of the operation.