Long-term management of luminal urethral stricture in women

The objective was to report our long-term experience of luminal urethral stricture (LUS) in women treated with dilation under general anesthesia.

Following institutional review board approval, charts of women who underwent urethral dilation (UD) under general anesthesia for LUS and had over 6 months' follow-up were reviewed. LUS was confirmed by urethroscopy. UD was performed using female dilators with guidewire and Heyman dilators when required. Outcome measures included the number of UD procedures and the duration and frequency of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Success was defined as the ability to void without repeat UD and with no need for CIC 1 year after UD. Possible predictive variables were analyzed.

Between 2000 and 2013, a total of 30 out of the 32 women who underwent UD for LUS met the inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up was 59 (range: 7 to 151) months. Thirteen women in the success group showed improvement in the mean maximum flow rate (pre 11 ml/s to post 27.8 ml/s) and post-void residual (pre 85 ml to post 43 ml). In the failure group of 17 patients, 2 required chronic CIC 1 year after a single UD. Fifteen opted for repeat UD. After second (n = 5), third (n = 2), and fourth (n = 2) UD, 9 patients came off CIC and reported durable satisfaction. Four women remained on regular CIC. Two required a permanent suprapubic catheter.

At a mean follow-up of 5 years, UD for LUS produced durable resolution in 43 % of our patients. Another 30 % fully benefited from repeat UDs. Shorter duration of symptoms before presentation was significantly associated with success.