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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Surgical Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).
Published on: March 6, 2018
[Holmium laser urethrotomy for male urethral stricture]
Jun Xiao1, Bin Wu, Ling-Wu Chen
1Department of Urology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China. xiaojunpp@126.com
Objective:
To evaluate transurethral holmium laser incision, its safety and effect in the treatment of male urethral stricture.
Methods:
Thirty-eight males with urethral stricture were treated by 1045 W holmium laser urethrotomy, 18 with the stricture length shorter than 1.0 cm, 9 between 1.0 cm and 1.5 cm, 7 longer than 1.5 cm , 4 with occlusive stricture and 6 companies with bladder calculus. The average peak urinary flow rate (Q(max)) was (5.6 +/- 2.3) ml/s.
Results:
Successful surgery was achieved in 36 of the cases, with no complications and the average Q(max) increased to (17.5 +/- 3.4) ml/s. Two cases were converted to open surgery. Thirty-two cases were followed up for 3-18 months, of whom 4 received urethral dilation and 2 underwent a second holmium laser urethrotomy.
Conclusion:
Holmium laser urethrotomy is a safe, effective and minimally invasive therapeutic modality for male urethral stricture.
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Urethra
The anatomy of the urethra differs between males and females. In females, the urethra is short, measuring about 3–4 cm in length, and opens anterior to the vaginal opening. In males, the urethra is longer and passes through the penis, serving dual purposes: expelling urine and ejaculating semen. The male urethra is...
