["Wallstent" endoprosthesis in recurrent urethral stricture in men]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Devices
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Male urethral stricture often requires repeated dilatations due to limited treatment efficacy.
• Current treatments for male urethral stricture have suboptimal long-term outcomes, impacting patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new metal-reinforced, meshed urethral prosthesis for treating male urethral stricture.
• To assess the incorporation of the prosthesis into the urethral wall and its impact on urothelium growth.

Main Methods:

• Endoscopic insertion of a metal-reinforced, meshed urethral prosthesis in 21 patients with recalcitrant bulbar urethral strictures.
• Prosthesis insertion performed after urethral dilatation, with a mean follow-up of 9 months.

Main Results:

• Successful treatment of urethral stricture in all 21 patients, with three requiring a second session.
• The prosthesis facilitated urothelium growth and incorporation into the urethral wall, maintaining urethral patency.

Conclusions:

• The new urethral prosthesis demonstrates high efficacy in treating longstanding male urethral strictures unresponsive to conventional therapies.
• While initial results are favorable, longer follow-up is necessary to confirm the long-term stability of this innovative treatment.