Prevention of urethral stricture recurrence using clean intermittent self-catheterization

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical outcomes
• Medical device interventions

Background:

• Urethral stricture recurrence is a common complication following internal urethrotomy.
• Preventative strategies are crucial to improve long-term outcomes for patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in preventing urethral stricture recurrence post-internal urethrotomy.
• To assess the safety and patient acceptability of a weekly CIC regimen.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 55 men undergoing Sachse's operation for urethral stricture.
• 21 patients performed weekly CIC for one year; 22 served as a control group.
• Objective examinations for urethral stricture were conducted every two months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Significantly fewer recurrences in the CIC group (4/21) compared to the control group (15/22) (P < 0.01).
• No complications were reported with the use of CIC.
• Patients who adhered to the CIC program found it fully acceptable.

Conclusions:

• Weekly clean intermittent catheterization is an effective and simple method to decrease the rate of urethral stricture recurrence after internal urethrotomy.
• CIC presents a safe and well-tolerated adjunctive therapy for post-operative urethral stricture management.