Changes in the male urethra produced by instrumentation for transurethral resection of the prostate

Radiographic changes produced in the male urethra by instrumentation were studied by pre- and postoperative urethrograms in 50 consecutive men as well as in several hundred selected patients. All 50 patients showed postoperative changes in the urethra. Obvious findings developed in 30% without symptoms while 14% of the men suffered severe symptomatic strictures. In our total operated cases, patients who were entered through the urethral meatus showed a 17.2% rate of stricture formation, while those entered transperineally showed only an 8.5% stricture rate. We conclude that all transurethral instrumentation produces trauma as evidenced by varying degrees of radiographic change.