[Efficiency and tolerance of intermittent self-dilatation after internal urethrotomy for urethral strictures]

To retrospectively evaluate efficiency and tolerance of intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) after unicenter internal urethrotomy (IU) on urethral strictures (US).

From January 2000 to November 2008, ISD have been performed after IU on 54 patients; 44.4% were iatrogenic. ISD median frequency was once a week (0.25-14). ISD was carried out for a median period of 8.4 months (0-97).

IPSS was 21 at diagnosis vs 7 during ISD (P=0.018). QoL score of IPSS was 5 at diagnosis vs 2 during ISD (P=0.03). Maximum flow rate was 4.6mL/s at diagnosis vs 16.6mL/s during ISD (P=0.003). Ten patients had recurrence during ISD period. The follow-up from the beginning of ISD was 35 months (range, 0-164). Urologists' evaluation of ISD tolerance was excellent or good for 47 patients (87%). Tolerance self-evaluation was excellent or good for seven patients out of 15.

ISD was a well-tolerated and useful option after IU. It had a 81.5% efficiency in our cohort.