Clean intermittent self-catheterization does not appear to be effective in the prevention of urethral stricture...

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) on stricture recurrence.

The incidence of stricture recurrence was assessed retrospectively in a group of 126 new patients treated endoscopically for urethral stricture in a general urological setting between 1994 and 2001, of whom 31 performed twice-weekly CISC and 95 did not. Stricture recurrence was defined as recurrent symptomatic stricture requiring further operative intervention following initial intervention. The mean follow-up available was 25 months (range 1-132 months).

Of the 126 patients assessed, 60 (47.6%) developed recurrent stricture and required an average of 3.13 endoscopic retreatments each during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference (chi-squared p = 0.46) between the number of stricture recurrences in those performing CISC (13-41.9%) and those not performing CISC (47-49.5%).

CISC does not appear to prevent medium-term stricture recurrence.