Internal optical urethrotomy: a report of fifty-one cases treated under local anaesthesia

Over the 15-month period beginning from October 1985, internal optical urethrotomy was successfully performed under local anaesthesia on 51 patients with urethral stricture. The procedure was well tolerated and 48 patients were discharged home on the day of operation. A urethral catheter (18 or 20F Foley) was left indwelling for one week post-operatively. Subsequently patency was assessed by check catheterisation using size 18F Nelaton Catheter, weekly for 6 weeks, and then at 3 monthly intervals. Thirty-nine patients have been followed up regularly for 3 to 15 months. Six patients restrictured (failed check catheterisation). The remaining 33 (84.6%) have retained urethral patency with no additional treatment.