Stent of shape-memory alloy for urethral obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia

Dilation and positioning a stent in the prostatic urethra have become important alternatives for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but both have significant drawbacks, namely the need to repeat the treatment in the former case and the conflict between the introducing means and the generation of sufficient expansile force in the latter case. A spiral of a Chinese titanium-nickel alloy with shape memory was implanted in 25 patients with BPH using a self-made coaxial sheath. With a follow-up of 3 to 20 months, the success rate is 92%. There has been no encrustation or migration of the spirals. We deem the spiral of this shape-memory alloy to be a good alternative in patients with BPH who are unfit for surgery.