[Long-term results of endoscopic treatment of urethral strictures]

The aim of the study was assessment of efficacy of internal urethrotomies made in Research Institute of Urology and city urological hospital N 47. A total of 802 endoscopic operations were performed in 644 male patients aged from 16 to 89 years (mean age 58.6 years) with urethral stricture in 1994-2004. Internal optic urethrotomy was made in 733 cases with a cold knife, in 52--with electric knife and in 17 cases--with laser. Endoscopic urethral resection was conducted in 47 cases. The strictures (0.5-8 cm long, mean 1.4 cm) located most frequently in the bulbous urethra (n=426, 66.1%). Short-term results (12 months) of endoscopic treatment of urethral strictures showed that efficacy of the primary internal urethrotomy conducted according to the authors' technique reached 80.4%. Endoscopic reoperations (from 1 to 6) were performed in 98 (19.6%) patients. A complete rehabilitation (follow-up 9 years maximum) including stenting was achieved in 95.1% patients. In 32 (4.9%) patients endoscopic and rehabilitation measures failed to bring about satisfactory clinical outcomes. These patients were treated with open urethroplasty. Thus, internal optic urethrotomy is an effective therapeutic method. After primary urethrotomy recurrences of the strictures to be reoperated reach 19.6%. These can be successfully managed by endoscopic reoperations and rehabilitation measures.