Urethral warming catheter for use during cryoablation of the prostate

Cryoablation of the prostate has been shown to be a useful tool in the eradication of prostate cancer. Sloughing of necrotic tissue per urethra was one of the major complications of prostate cryosurgery during its initial application and led to its disuse by urologists. A catheter was then needed until sloughing was complete and the patient again able to void. In a previous report, we have demonstrated that thermal protection of the urethra could be obtained by flowing warm irrigant through a thin-walled urethral conduit. To simplify the application of this heat, a dual lumen urethral catheter has been designed that can be passed transurethrally to circulate warm saline and prevent the destruction of the urethral epithelium. This prevents transmural necrosis, maintaining the epithelial barrier for containment of necrotic prostate tissue after treatment. This urethral warming device is made of materials commonly found in operative stockrooms. To date, the device has functioned well with a urethral sloughing rate of 12% during its initial use.