[Wallstent endourethral prosthesis in recurrent urethral stenoses]

Urethral strictures recur in about 30% of the cases irrespective of treatment. We describe a new urethral stent, originally developed in our institution for vascular use after transluminal angioplasty. We have previously controlled the biocompatibility and tolerance in the normal urethra of dogs in a study with a one year follow-up that was undertaken in 1986. The stent has a braided structure, made of fine stainless steel wires and is self-expanding when released from a special endoscopic instrument. Since November 1987, we have implanted the stent in 11 men (mean age 54 years), after a previous urethrotomy had been performed. In two patients a second stent was implanted for incomplete result. Now with a mean follow-up of 12 months all patients are continent, and only two patients have complained of slight stress incontinence.