Long-Term Outcomes of Recurrent Bulbar Urethral Stricture Treatment With the Optilume Drug-Coated Balloon: Five-Year...

We report the 5-year study closeout results for the ROBUST I trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Optilume drug-coated balloon (DCB) for men with short, recurrent bulbar urethral strictures.

Adult men with recurrent bulbar urethral strictures ≤ 2 cm long and lumen < 12F were included in the study and treated with the Optilume DCB. Outcome measures included symptom questionnaires, maximum urinary flow rate, postvoid residual, and freedom from repeat intervention. Functional success was defined as improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score ≥ 50% without re-treatment.

Fifty-three men were enrolled and treated, and 31 subjects completed all follow-up. Functional success was achieved in 58% (25/43) patients at 5 years. Average International Prostate Symptom Score improved from a mean of 25.2 at baseline to 7.2 at 5 years (P < .001). Freedom from repeat intervention was maintained through 5 years at 71.7% estimated by Kaplan-Meier. Maximum urinary flow rate improved from 5.0 mL/s at baseline to 19.9 (P < .01), and average postvoid residual was reduced from 141.4 mL to 59.5 mL (P < .01) at 5 years of follow-up. Erectile function remained unaffected. There were no serious treatment-related adverse events.

In this challenging cohort of men with failed prior endoscopic treatment, the Optilume DCB shows sustained improvement in subjective and objective voiding parameters at 5 years. Optilume is a safe and effective treatment option for appropriately selected men with recurrent bulbar urethral stricture who wish to avoid urethroplasty. Results are in line with the ROBUST III randomized controlled trial that will continue follow-up through 5 years.