Does internal urethrotomy prevent urethral stricture after transurethral prostatectomy. Early and late results

In a randomized study of 200 consecutive patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy (TURP), the combination of internal urethrotomy and TURP (the trial group) was compared with TURP alone (the control group) with regard to the development of urethral strictures postoperatively. Three months after resection, 14% in the trial group and 21% in the control group had developed a urethral stricture. The difference was not statistically significant. At a late follow-up (median 54 months postoperatively) 5 more patients in the trial group and 8 in the control group had developed strictures. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of uroflowmetry in diagnosing urethral strictures was 62 and 96%, respectively. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of retrograde urethrography was 58 and 98%, respectively. We conclude that urethrotomy before TURP cannot prevent the formation of postoperative urethral strictures.