[Success of internal urethrotomy as the 1st operation in male urethral stricture]

A follow-up examination was possible on 179 out of 226 patients operated on for urethrostenosis using sight urethrotomy according to Sachse. The results are classification according to the observation period, ranging from 3 months to 3 years. The most important criteria of a successful operation were lack of discomfort and a rise in uroflow to over 10 ml. Relapses occur more frequently than average in patients who had recidive infections of the urinary tract before the operation. Where the operation was successful the urinary tract infection almost always subsided. Recidive strictures occurred frequently in patients over 70 years. However, internal urethrotomy is often the only suitable method of operation at that age. Long prior bouginage makes prognosis worse. In terms of aetiology, iatrogenic stenoses give the worst results, bulbar ring stenoses, the best. In cases of long stenoses, particularly in the penile part of the urethra, the results of the operation are clearly worse than average, so that another method of operation should be considered, especially if the patients are young.